This morning, while routinely standing in my bathroom and applying my daily makeup, I began to contemplate the appearance of scars. We all have scars and each one tells a story; some scary, others sad, possibly precious, humorous, or intriguing. I have a scar on my nose from the possible skin cancer that turned out to be benign just a handful of months ago. This fleshly mark serves as a reminder that the outer layer I show to the world is quite fragile and I must daily protect it.

I have a scar on my kneecap from an ironic mini-van seatbelt incident. It tells the story of a young child, talking back to his mother in an extreme case of disobedience, while on a family vacation. This Mother (me) had finally had enough, mindlessly turned around in her captain’s chair to punish said child, and somehow miraculously hit the one millimeter of metal on the seatbelt with the skin (and bone) of her kneecap. Every time that particular mother wears shorts (which is rare), she recalls the famous knee injury vacation incident, which has become somewhat of a family joke.

Scars reveal a deep wound that heals over, forming a scab, and resulting in a further healed wound that, while not always pleasing to the eye, is actually quite stronger than the original skin. We each have two choices when it comes to the many scars our bodies show, after years of wear and tear.

We can reveal our scars, in efforts to provide hope and healing to others, suffering similar hurts in this life. Or, we can hide our scars, never revealing them in the light of day; and thus, denying the very story of healing and overcoming that each scar reveals.

There are many different kinds of scars. I have a childhood scar from that ornery little dog that scratched my cheek when playing on my front porch. My son and I both have matching knee scars from a biking injury when we collided on the riding trail by our house. Digging a little deeper, I started to reflect on the inevitable emotional scars we cannot help but collect as we travel this life. That first breakup, perhaps a divorce or the death of a very close loved one. The scars of infertility or the loss of a precious child. The scars of a career cut short before one had the chance to adequately shine. The scars of alcoholism, adultery, depression, debilitating anxiety, fear that infringes on daily living. The potential for scars that accompany us on our daily journey through life is immeasurable.

Jesus was no stranger to scars. He carried the holes of the nails cruelly drilled into the flesh on both his hands and feet. The scar of a violent piercing rod shot through the outer skin and inner organs of his very human body. These scars tell the story of his torturous death and miraculous resurrection. The scars were revealed to his disciples after his resurrection so that they would have absolute proof of the greatest love story ever told.

Jesus’ scars serve as a mark to the world of a healer that understands any human pain fathomable. He walked this earth. He felt disappointment, heartbreak, loss, pain, fear, anger, and a myriad of other relatable human emotions. Yet, he persisted in his faithful journey to save the world from sin.

Jesus does not hide his scars. He reveals them to you and to me. The light shines through the darkness of suffering. Scars are fleshly proof that each wound has a story to tell. The healing of our earthly wounds tells a glorious message comparable to that of spiritual healing ready and waiting to touch each broken heart.

Psalm 147:3:

He heals the brokenhearted

And binds up their wounds.

All we have to do is look to seek Jesus and humbly ask for the healing only he, in his infinite wisdom and overflowing love, can provide.

Amannda Maphies has always gone by Manndi; and yes, it has two n’s. It is actually a perfect moniker for her as she’sa bit (more than a bit) zany, wacky, crazy and loves nothing more than to laugh at herself and share that laughter with others. Manndi works fulltime at the UMKC School of Pharmacy, has two boys, William (10) and Waylan (8). She loves to write so she recently started posting on Facebook about her daily adventures about everything from being a single mom of two wild and crazy boys to dating after divorce, to more serious topics such as the loss of a loved one and suicide awareness. She trie to infuse humor, relatability and a touch of inspiration into each of her pieces. One day, she will compile them for a memoir of her life. Manndi’s life motto is ‘live a life you would want to read about’ and she strives everyday to reach others with her words. She feels that you are only as happy as you choose to be and she CHOOSES happiness over all other emotions. She is honored to be featured in a publication named ‘Positively Positive’ because that is truly how she strives to live life.

Image courtesy of Anastasia Shuraeva.