I stood in the hotel room with a friend. As I prepared for bed, she pointed to a scar on my arm.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Skin cancer,” I said. Then I pointed to more places.
She showed me her shoulder. A deep scar marred her fair skin.
“Me too,” she said.
There was a time for most of us when our bodies were fairly unscarred. We flashed those pretty legs and showed our arms, and didn’t give it a thought.
Life marks us. We give birth and our stomachs are lined with angry red marks that fade. It’s evidence that a miracle once existed inside of us. We try that big adventure, whether it’s hanging on a rope and flying into a creek or flying down that hill on a bike. That produces more scars, but it was so much fun (until it wasn’t).
As my friend and I compared scars, she said, “We’re survivors, Suzie.”
And we are. We’ve earned those scars, you and I. There are stories in each of the stretch marks, lines, and uneven tracks where stitches once lived. I’m not going to lie and pretend I don’t have anti-wrinkle cream in my makeup drawer, because I do. But I’m also not going to let anyone say that my scars are anything but beautiful, especially those that come with age.
If you are young, you will get older and your body will change. I look back and see the girl I once was and wish I could scoop her up and tell her that there’s SO much to learn, so much to experience, so much to gain as the years go by. I wish I could tell her that her scars would proclaim that she is a survivor, an adventurer, and a woman who experiences life.
So, let’s show our scars, sweet friend. Let’s celebrate, woman to woman, because our scars show that we are healed. We overcame. We pushed through. We conquered another day.
I’m scarred. Your scarred. We’re beautiful together.
Suzie
Resources
In Episode #41 of More Than Small Talk podcast (Scarred and Beautiful), Holley Gerth, Jennifer Watson, and I share some light-hearted stories of how we got a scar, but then we go deep about the scars we carry on the inside.
I hope you’ll join in the conversation. You can find all the links to the podcast here.
I’m scarred but my scars do not define me. I’m scarred inside and unless I tell others they don’t see the hidden scars. I may have a few physical scars but they ones I keep inside have broken me.
Thank you, Suzie, for the reminder that our scars tell a story….our story. We can allow them to make us or break us. Victory is being an overcomer. I am celebrating being a conquered today. ❤️🙏🏻
Suzi
Loved this for today so true when we look back how far we have become and oh the things we have overcome with God;s with guidance and yes our prayers do get
answered in due time not my will but thy will.we are all flawed and broken in some way but somehow we keep on marching.
Thank you Suzie for thid message!
If you only knew how timely this reminder is for me today. Thank you. Thank you for creating a space where we can come and just be. We don’t have to put on any facades or fear judgement for some of the scars we bear. Sometimes Christian women and churches can shoot their wounded rather than help them. Thank you for this place, your efforts, your encouragement and sharing your wisdom and experiences with us.