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 flew 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, grabbed his gun, 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.

The above is very good.

...don't mean to be profane, but it is --

"A farmer ... grabbed his gun, ... and shot the alligator."

that secondarily attracts my attention.

May not the farmer have been Gd's providence? and might not one consider it gratifying that the farmer a right proper tool?

Gun.

Taylor,

Thanks for posting this "story". Just what I needed to hear right now. Good to remember how much God loves each of us.

I also believe that God uses others to help in time of need, like the farmer in this story. I think that too often some folks don't give God credit for using people to assist them out of situations.

Anyway, I will take this with me. Thanks,
Morning Glory

On the other hand, if God loves me, He has a funny way of showing it...

Graeme

What's God doing to you, Planey?

oG

I don't believe God knows I exist.

I am just one out of 6 billion people alive on Earth at the moment.

I think I got lost in the crowd.

Graeme