Today we are sharing a guest blog from Taylor Scott while Shaunti is in this season of cancer treatments. Enjoy!
Do you have any scars? I have too many to count. What’s funny, most of them are the result of living life big—having fun. Like the one on the top of my foot from an incident at the lake when I was a little girl. Or the one on my thigh from mountain biking while on vacation in Colorado. Or the scar on my calf from a road cycling fall—it looks exactly like my chain ring. Ha!
Several years ago, I was given a donated dress to wear for a charity event that I was emceeing. But the dress put my skin cancer surgery scar on full display for the world to see. (I had just gotten 40 stitches in my back after Mohs for basal cell carcinoma.) I’ll admit, as a woman, anticipating wearing that dress made insecurity roar its ugly head. Also, after a year of trying to be careful in the sun, I was going to have to go back in for 4 more biopsies. That meant 4 more lovely scars. Ugh.
Many of us have emotional scars. They go deep. They may even still be open wounds.
But I’m learning to have a new perspective on scars. I’ve shown my skin cancer scar to several women, and it’s encouraged them to get their skin checked! I’ve shown my emotional scars to others and as a result, they no longer felt alone in their pain.
Our own Savior, Jesus, is known for his scars, and we are forever grateful. “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Remember doubting Thomas, the disciple who needed some evidence? Jesus responded with compassion as we see in John 20. “Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:26-27). Jesus’ scars on his hands, feet and side are a stunning reminder of His incredible love for us.
When we go through things that wound us, physically or emotionally, we scar. But those scars can be used to love others, modeling the sacrificial love our Savior showed us. So go ahead, show those scars, and pray that by our wounds, others will feel loved and not alone.
Taylor Scott is the co-host of “The Kevin and Taylor Show” on 104.7 The Fish with Kevin Avery. Their nationally syndicated morning show airs over 100 Salem Media radio stations and desires to be a mirror of the “welcoming heart of God” to their listeners while having “good, clean fun.” Taylor lives in Atlanta with her husband, Glenn, their beloved dog, Alex the Wonder Mutt, and loves trail running, mountain biking, hiking, and any type of dark chocolate.
This article was also published at Patheos.
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