> 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, 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.
>
> Please pass this on to those you love. God has
> blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to
> others. You just never know where a person is in
> his/her life and what they are going through.
>
> Never judge another persons scars, because you
> don't know how they got them. Also, it is soooo
> important that we are not selfish, to receive the
> blessings of these messages, without forwarding them
> to someone else.
>
> Right now, someone needs to know that God loves
> them, and you love them, too- enough to not let them
> go.
