A Day of Remembrance

So I was going to write about a totally unrelated topic to what I ended up writing for this blog.  But as sometimes happens, my day turned and so the topic of this post turned with it.

The "turning" actually all started last night.  I was getting ready to go to be early (Yay!) after a busy weekend and mainly because Daylight Savings Time.  As I was preparing to settle in, I noticed my ankle (the one I broke 5 1/2 years ago) felt swollen.  It didn't really hurt, but it felt a little tight.  I went on to sleep after applying some lemongrass oil to my ankle.  After the mad dash this morning to get the kids ready for and taken to school, I was able to sit down long enough to look at my ankle.  It still felt swollen, and when I looked down, it was clear to see that it was, in fact, swollen.  It still didn't really hurt.  It was just a little stiff.  I applied more lemongrass oil and went on with my morning.  I even went to my Tae Kwon Do class at noon.  I tried to stretch some of the stiffness out, and I let my instructor know that I'd have to modify some of the exercises in order to protect my ankle.  He agreed and class started.  At one point during the class, it suddenly became very uncomfortable to even put much weight on it.  The instructor repeatedly told me to sit out if I needed to, but I really wanted to keep going.  I did the exercises I could, which were basically only the ones involving my arms…for example, punching. 
By the time I got home after class, I was so frustrated that I was still having pain like this after 5 1/2 years, that I could have just taken my ankle off by myself.

Not really.
But maybe.
Then I'd have more issues, so...
No.

Anyway, while I was crying tearing up, making my lunch, God gently reminded me that total and complete healing does not happen until the Day of Completion--aka death.  Before you start thinking, "Oh great!  That's helpful," let me show you the mercy in that picture.  Just as suffering can have a purpose, so can lingering scars and side effects.  The scars and lasting issues serve as a reminder of what we have gone through…and have survived overcome.  There are mercies shown by God during times of trial.  The scars help us remember them.  We tend to forget that we made it through a time of suffering with God's help.  We tend to forget that we learned many things about His character and about who we are in Him.  We tend to forget the myriad of mercies.  At least, I do.
Our scars can help remind us of His love and great grace and mercy.  They help us refocus our gaze to Him who carried us through the suffering.  They can be as necessary to our growth as the suffering that caused them.  And they can be beautiful. 

Psalm 103:1-4:

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits, 

who forgives all your iniquity, 

who heals all your diseases, 

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy…

What makes your scars beautiful?