Scars of the Heart

There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature.  A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with.

-Harry Crews

I was having a conversation on Sunday with a dear friend about hurt, sin and scars.  "I am not bitter anymore about this scar on my elbow from falling, or this scar here from a medical procedure," I explained.  "I don't even feel them anymore."

I went to bed that night thinking about my physical scars, remember the pain I experienced with every single one.  I hardly ever think about them anymore, nor do I notice them.  Each has their own tale that weaves into the greater story of who Mallory is.  Some are from chasing a boy and tripping on a dirt road.  Others are from slipping on gravel while riding my bike.  My knees are covered in scars from having warts removed (gross I know).  

Physical scars almost seem easier than emotional ones, scars on the heart.  You can watch them heal.  Its common knowledge on how to treat a fresh wound and the appropriate steps to make sure you are left with the smallest scar possible.  Its not that easy when your heart is wounded.  Emotional wounds seem never ending.  

Physical scars once healed simply just hold memories.  You can touch it, look at it, poke it and you won't  open up the wound again.  Its healed.  The pain is gone.

Emotional scars are forever wounds.  You can heal, move on, but if you look at your scarred heart the wound can reopen.  The worst is when someone else touches the scar, and how quickly it reopens and floods your heart in old pain.

Scars of the heart are precious tales of where sin and grace converge in our life.  They are dark corners of our heart we only reveal to those we trust the most.  And when someone reveals their heart scars to you it is a gift to be cherished.  

My heart scars will always be the best parts of me, but they will also cause me the most pain.  Over and over.  It is only in sharing those scars with other people that they will cease to hurt us.  Instead of making us vulnerable, they will make us stronger.