SCARS

Today I received news of my last biopsy for the year. It was negative. I was so overjoyed by this news that it was hard to hold back the tears.

Since 2011, with my first diagnosis of Melanoma, I have had countless biopsies, surgeries, and freezes. So why did this last biopsy result bring more relief to me? It’s all because of something that happened a few days ago.

I had just gotten out of the shower and decided to check on how the biopsy spot was healing. It was just out of reach of my fingertips, so I couldn’t take care of it as well as others. I turned my body so I could see my bareback in the mirror. I haven’t looked at it in a while. When I saw it, I remembered why.

Up and down my back there are nothing but scars from the multiple procedures I have had done. Some are small. Some are large. All are ugly. I was quickly reminded of why I never like my back or shoulders to show. For one moment, I felt disgusted by my own body. I quickly got dressed.

I glanced at myself in the mirror again. I thought about how I am blessed. I get to cover up my scars. I bet if someone met me for the first time they would never even know I had any. This brought me to thinking about all of the scars on the people around us that we will probably never see. We may not even know the scars exist.

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,” Ephesians 4:2

But they do. Everyone has scars. They may be physical. They may be emotional. They may be mental. They may even be spiritual. So, tread lightly with love, displaying grace and mercy to those around you.

Some of us are really good at covering the scars. Bear with one another in love.