April 7, 2005
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Here’s a long post, but it relates to a current thread. I’ve seen the below-posted story floating around the internet for years. I doubt that it’s a true story, but it is an excellent illustration for a reality we often miss:
God will sometimes let us get hurt in order to save us.
Here’s the story: SCARS IN LIFE
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 that was 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 flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
In the house, his mother was looking out the window. She saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could.
Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed, and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms, just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began a very incredible tug-of-war between the two.
The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard her 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. On his arms, there were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh, in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.
The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked the boy if he would show him his scars.
The boy lifted his pant legs. 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 Mom wouldn’t let go.”
Many of us (me included) whine pathetically about the pain of life, and about how so and so is hurting us, whether stranger or family. We even justify our mistreatment of others by referencing our own pain. But what if God knows that the only way to get us to let go of our idolotries and idiocies is to put us in places where we are beyond our resources to cope with them. And what if our good is His primary, even single-minded motive.
If that is true, then instead of mitching and boning, whining and complainning, our response to any suffering would be . . .
What do you all think our response to suffering should be?
Comments (3)
I think it depends on the suffering. Whining won’t help, but sorting out the issues, questioning, searching and getting things straight will help. That boy was lucky that his mom held on. Not all kids are that lucky. Some parents throw their kids to the wolves, I know from personal experience.
We can take our suffering and turn it to good. God will help that too, but if you do not deal with the emotions and feelings they will keep croping up. Perhaps the best response to suffering is forgiveness, for then you do not carry the burdens. But frankly, there is also a bit of anger and envy. For not all have that kind of suffering.
If someone is suffering, the best response is to show them love and caring, for that will do more than any advice. The people usually know what to do, but are hurting. To help the hurt by loving them will do the best.
By the way, like your new do – must be liberating before the summer. One teacher at my kids school auctioned off his locks last year.
Heather
I think one reason we are presented with pain and suffering is to have a higher appreciation for (and rightly so) the times when we are not in pain. What good is heaven if we had heaven on earth?
it’s pretty obvious from the Bible that God always has our best interests in mind “though Satan should buffet, though trials should come” right? now the problem is, how do you figure out what God wants you to learn or how God wants you to grow through said trial? cause in my experience God doesn’t really write it on my bedroom wall or send a direct prophecy from someone sitting next to me in the cafeteria.