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Scary Scars





A young trouble-lovin’ neighbor boy managed to scare me back in my preschool days.  My mom sent me to our neighbor’s house where Freddie hid in the shrubs and jumped out at me wearing his Frankenstein mask loaded with scars.  I screamed every time.  


I’ve had to forgive Freddie for harassing me when these memories pop up.  I’m sure he grew up to be a swell guy and if I could remember his last name I would look him up on social media and yell at him.


Those Scars!
The scars on the mask looked real to me, a six year old timid girl.  What is it about scars that creep us out like that?

When I think of scars, I think of pain.  I don’t like to see people suffer. 

Scars are areas of fibrous tissue (fibrosis) that replace normal skin after injury. A scar results from the biological process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process.     Wikipedia

My orthopedic surgeon is a petite female but as strong as her male peers in the field.  She is highly respected in the hospitals.  Professionals shared great stories during my short hospital stay hoping to reassure me that I’m in good hands.   I knew that by her many patients here in northern Arizona.

She is known by our scars.


The gentleman in our local park walked his dogs and pulled up his pant leg to show me the scar on his knee after only four weeks post-op.
 
“Don’t tell me who your doctor is; let me guess,” I replied.  I knew.  We compared our wound stories. 

The salesman across from me in the shoe store noted my knee as he helped me try on shoes.   

“I bet I know who your surgeon is.”

And he was right as he studied my scar.  “She is meticulous.”

Wikipedia reminds me that scars are a part of the healing process.  They don’t disappear entirely even though some become so faint; it looks like a penciled line.


Humor is also healing.  A friend sent me two photos that made me laugh.  I have no idea who these hairy legs belong to, some guy with a sense of humor and a scar.  Maybe it’s Freddie!










Have you ever had a scar…or a tattoo?  Or a Frankenstein mask?

But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

Isaiah 53:5,6


Comments

  1. ן would have thought that by now they can operate withhout leaving any scars, but no. Medicine is still waiting for breakthroughs in many of its fields. Scars are ugly but they're not the main issue. If everything goes well, then the scar is a marginal matter. Besides, there are ways to deal with it and minimize its appearance (laser, plastic surgery, etc..).

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  2. I have a few scars on my knee from some knee surgeries too - 3 of them, but no total knees! I'm glad you had such a good surgeon, it makes a difference.
    No tattoos here, but that zipper one is hilarious!

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  3. Ok, that scar looks so cool with the Darth Vader tattoo, I almost think the wound was worth it! ;-)


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  4. No I have never had a scar…or a tattoo ...or a Frankenstein mask. Those zippers look k ind of funny. Yours will get pencil looking too. I think Jesus for the scars He did for us,

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  5. What a witty commentary ... and so timely! Those tattoos are priceless ... love their imagination!

    Yes, scars can touch us deep inside, long after the outer healing is complete. And that's not even counting one's mental scars. I like to think we're stronger for having survived them.

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  6. Creativity with the tattoos with the scars. I agree with what Myra said about the scars; inner scars sometimes are so much harder to heal and easier to conceal. No scars or tattoos here (I would have gotten a tattoo years back over a special event but my hubby doesn't like them so I respected his wishes and didn't.)

    betty

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  7. My husband has a very long scar running from the bottom of his chest to the top of his groin area. He is a colon cancer survivor and also a c-dif survivor. It's part of what makes him who he is.

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  8. Awesome story Mary. Yes, I have scars too. Physically and some have emotionally. Allowing those emotional scars too heel was way worst than the physical. I must say I laughed at the scar with the zipper! Enjoyed this post today and I do pray you are getting back to being good as new! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  9. Oh my gosh, that zipper tattoo is hilarious!! Would you mind if I used it on my Facebook page? If you don't want me to, I completely understand.
    What an amazing thing that people can tell your doctor by your scars? What a wonderful comparison to grace. Our scars heal with the power and love of God, and hopefully people see that when we conquer fear, sadness and pain. Certainly this person's attitude toward his scars reflects grace. What a great post today. Thank you.
    Ceil

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  10. I have a nice scar on my right wrist from surgery that needed done because I fell and broke the wrist. But it is nothing compared to the scars that our precious Lord suffered. I lo xve the zipper picture. :) xx

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  11. Oh, my word! The pictures are so funny, but I am so sorry you have had to go through so much. I think often of the scars upon our "hearts"...the ones that no one ever sees. Those are from the deepest pains. I love the old Dottie Rambo song, "Tears Will Never Stain The Streets of that City". Especially, the one part where it says, "If I could count all the tears that have fallen, well, it would seem like an ocean to me; and if my heart were a window you could look through, oh, the pain and scars you would see!" I hope you are feeling much better now, sweet friend. Praying for you.

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  12. Those kids like Freddy; every town has one! But they're great to use in stories and real life.

    Those tattoos are too funny! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

    Glad your healing. The scars are like the stones set up in the OT, they remind us and teach us, if we let them.

    Stitches... I don't know if I can count as high as the amount of them I've had on this soul cage. From head to toe and everything in between. My heavenly body is gonna be lighter... and not just because I'll be leaving behind the screws and titanium!

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  13. I have a few scars and about to get another one, knee replacement coming up Nov. 9th. Outside scars don't worry me, they are a sign of healing and that goes for the inside one too. What a marvelous body God created, even though it gets scared up, it heals...looking forward to the new body though, no scars...

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  14. How amazing that your scars can show who your doctor was! That is incredible. I like how you weaved your scars with a story from your childhood of someone who scarred you with his fearful acts. How thankful that in Christ, while we can see the scars of our past, He has removed the pain from them. Glad to hear you are healing well, dear Mary!

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  15. I have a long scar just under my navel. Doctor cut me in the middle because he wasn't sure what was causing all the pain. Turned out it was a busted appendix and his words, what a mess. A long hospital stay, but I survived. Glad you are doing better and having fun thinking about scars.

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  16. I'm happy you visited my blog.
    I am glad that your grandparents came from Poland.
    He wished you much health and joy of having a grandson.
    I send autumn greetings from Poland.
    Lucja

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  17. Welcome to Sunday morning!
    You suffered, You are after surgery, now they are close.
    You know the most important thing is health and I wish you all heart.

    Divine blessings from the autumn a little cool Poland.

    http://czarownyswiat.blogspot.com

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  18. I think everyone's wearing a "tattoo" to hide their real face or their scar. It could be due to fear of not being accepted or wanting to be someone else. Scarred people are beautiful people. That's what I always believe in.

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  19. My Dermatologist suggested scar removal dermalmd serum to me after three surgeries to my leg. The wound was terrible to look at. After a couple months the wound is so much lighter. My Dermatologist thinks there won't even be a scar after a year. Also used it for two very old scars. One from childhood and it really worked better than I even hoped. Please get Scar Removal Serum if you feel insecure about any scar. It works.

    ReplyDelete

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