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
>>> >theshore.
>>> >
>>> >His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and
>>> >closer
>>> >together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his
>>> >son as loudly
>>> >as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and
>>> >made a
>>> >U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached
>>> >his father,
>>> >the alligator reached him. From the dock, the father grabbed his
>>> >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 father,
>>> >but
>>>the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer
>>> >happened to drive
>>> >by, heard his 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 father's fingernails dug
>>> >into his
>>> >flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he 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 Dad wouldn't let go."
>>> >You and I can identify with that
>>>little boy. We have scars, too. No,
>>> >not
>>> >from an alligator, 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, not knowing
>>> >what lies ahead.
>>> >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 ever let
>>>you go.
>>> >
>>> >Please pass this on to those you love. God has blessed you, so that
>>> >you can
>>> >be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person is in h
>>> >is/herlife and what they are going through. Never judge another
>>> >person's
>>> >scars, because you don't know how they got them. Also, it is so
>>> >important
>>> >that we are not selfish, to receive the blessings of these
>>> >messages, without
>>> >forwarding them to someone else. Right now, someone needs to know
>>> >that God
>>> >loves them, and you love them, too- enough to not let them go .
>>> >Always Tell Your
>>> >Family And Friends How Much You Love Them!!!
>>> >
>>> >FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN OUR WINGS HAVE
>>> >TROUBLE
>>> >REMEMBERING HOW TO
>>>FLY.
