Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a 
swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, 
he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.  He dove 
into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator 
was swimming toward the shore.

His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In 
utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing 
his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was 
too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the 
father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That 
began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the 
father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, 
heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were 
extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep 
scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to 
the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show 
him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to 
the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them 
because my Dad wouldn't let go."

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an 
alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and 
have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has 
refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.

The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect 
you and provide for you in every way. But, sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous 
situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril 
-- and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins 
-- and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did 
not and will not ever let you go.

Never judge another persons scars, because you don't know how they got them. Also, it 
is so important that we realize that right now, someone needs to know that God loves 
them, and you love them, too -- enough to not let them go.