[CrimsonTide4]

TUG-OF-WAR

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 mother in the house was looking out the window saw the two as they
got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water,
yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy
became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late.
Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother
grabbed her 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 mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard her 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 mother's fingernails dug into his
flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she 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
Mom wouldn't let go."

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not
from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. 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. 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 - let you go. …--author unknown to me


“The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are One.” John 10:27-30 AMP