We All Have Scars
***Note: If you are not able to look at anything graphic, you may not want to read further. The following post contains graphics of scars that may be upsetting or visual to some. These are not pictures of my body but pictures of the similarities of the scars that I carry.
This has taken a lot for me to post this. In fact, it's truly stepping out of a comfort zone yet, it's needed. Why? Because in our world, we determine beauty based on flawlessness. Very seldom do we look at people with flaws or scars and say, "Oh how beautiful she or he is!"
But, do you ever think about the scars on Jesus hands and feet? Can you imagine them as beautiful? Probably not.
Scars are wounds that have healed but marks are left where the wound once was. (My own definition and not Webster's).
I have scars unfortunately, on the outside. Ones that are very difficult to hide. They are hideous and I can literally tell you that I have cried out to God and asked, "Why me?" so many times that He is probably totally sick of hearing me ask, "Why?"
My external scars are not scars that I can explain. They weren't there one day and then suddenly, they appeared. Maybe they started as something so very small that I didn't think too hard about them. But, slowly, they grew and in return, they became road blocks in my way of being happy and confident.
Living in a community that is so beauty based has been the biggest challenge for me to not feel inferior by my scars. You see, I KNOW that the scars don't define who I am. If anyone looked beyond my scars, they'd see a caring, genuine, honest woman who would take the shirt off of her back to give to someone in need.
Yet, I know for a fact that I can never feel courageous enough to wear a bathing suit or a low cut blouse or even a sexy nightie for fear of not my flab or the bulge battle but my scars.
My daughter was asked recently, to define beauty and her answer was, "When I think of beauty, I think of my mom." It brings tears to my eyes even now to know that she and my youngest daughter see me as beautiful. They look beyond my scars to the person I am, deep inside. They are the most beautiful girls ever and are told constantly, "You should be models" but you know what, they both believe that beauty really is what is on the inside and has nothing, whatsoever to do with what's on the outside.
Then there are those that have external, flawless beauty on the outside but they are crying out on the inside. Their pain is continually being stuffed out of fear that others may really see how they look inside.
Being totally honest here...and I may be hated for my opinion but I don't care whether you are a size 3 and have had a boob job, you are no more beautiful than a woman that has lost a breast to cancer and wears a size 16 or size 18. We have been taught to judge people by their weight, by their complexions, by their height, by the color of their hair or eyes or even the way they talk...when does it stop? When do we really begin to see that what matters the most is the way we are inside and not on the outside?
I have yet to say, "I'm Simone and I'm so very proud of my scars". But maybe, someday, I will. But in the meantime, remember that if Jesus was standing before us, would we be repulsed by his scars or would be embrace him and kiss his nail scarred hands and feet?
Today, I challenge you all to see beauty beyond flaws. One of my favorite sayings (and I have a lot of them) is the greatest masterpiece is one that has flaws.
This has taken a lot for me to post this. In fact, it's truly stepping out of a comfort zone yet, it's needed. Why? Because in our world, we determine beauty based on flawlessness. Very seldom do we look at people with flaws or scars and say, "Oh how beautiful she or he is!"
But, do you ever think about the scars on Jesus hands and feet? Can you imagine them as beautiful? Probably not.
Scars are wounds that have healed but marks are left where the wound once was. (My own definition and not Webster's).
I have scars unfortunately, on the outside. Ones that are very difficult to hide. They are hideous and I can literally tell you that I have cried out to God and asked, "Why me?" so many times that He is probably totally sick of hearing me ask, "Why?"
My external scars are not scars that I can explain. They weren't there one day and then suddenly, they appeared. Maybe they started as something so very small that I didn't think too hard about them. But, slowly, they grew and in return, they became road blocks in my way of being happy and confident.
Living in a community that is so beauty based has been the biggest challenge for me to not feel inferior by my scars. You see, I KNOW that the scars don't define who I am. If anyone looked beyond my scars, they'd see a caring, genuine, honest woman who would take the shirt off of her back to give to someone in need.
Yet, I know for a fact that I can never feel courageous enough to wear a bathing suit or a low cut blouse or even a sexy nightie for fear of not my flab or the bulge battle but my scars.
My daughter was asked recently, to define beauty and her answer was, "When I think of beauty, I think of my mom." It brings tears to my eyes even now to know that she and my youngest daughter see me as beautiful. They look beyond my scars to the person I am, deep inside. They are the most beautiful girls ever and are told constantly, "You should be models" but you know what, they both believe that beauty really is what is on the inside and has nothing, whatsoever to do with what's on the outside.
Then there are those that have external, flawless beauty on the outside but they are crying out on the inside. Their pain is continually being stuffed out of fear that others may really see how they look inside.
Being totally honest here...and I may be hated for my opinion but I don't care whether you are a size 3 and have had a boob job, you are no more beautiful than a woman that has lost a breast to cancer and wears a size 16 or size 18. We have been taught to judge people by their weight, by their complexions, by their height, by the color of their hair or eyes or even the way they talk...when does it stop? When do we really begin to see that what matters the most is the way we are inside and not on the outside?
I have yet to say, "I'm Simone and I'm so very proud of my scars". But maybe, someday, I will. But in the meantime, remember that if Jesus was standing before us, would we be repulsed by his scars or would be embrace him and kiss his nail scarred hands and feet?
Today, I challenge you all to see beauty beyond flaws. One of my favorite sayings (and I have a lot of them) is the greatest masterpiece is one that has flaws.
Comments
When you know you're becoming healthy, is when you turn away from magazines, television, film, the mall, billboards, etc, and pick up the Good Book to feed what's important: your soul.
God made us each to perfection. YOU are the perfect Simone. NO ONE can do your part better than you. The closer you come to truly understanding this, the more ready you are to hear Him when he speaks to you, the more joyous He becomes.
People who are hip to this and understand what it is to come to grips with physical imperfection stand more ready, in my humble estimation, to be sensitive, sympathetic, empathetic and HELPFUL to others still struggling along that path. THAT is part of our purpose here...to help others.
God gave you everything you need to do your job and you do it so well. It explains, in part, how inspirational and uplifting, interesting and thought-provoking your blog is. A human Barbie couldn't do what you do.
I have scars that run vertically down my front side and down my back side from operations on my back. I have one on my neck from an operation for my thyroid. I have one on my nose from having a glass window break over my head. I have scars on both knees and both arms....and I'm not talking about scars from boo-boos, I'm talking, each time, about scars from stitches, often done by surgeons who couldn't sew well.
I'm not telling you that to say that they're the same as yours. I'm telling you that because I spent the first 20 years of my life hiding them. I remember one summer vacation in Cape Cod, I wore long pants into the ocean over my bathing suit. I was 16.
Thanks for writing this. Sorry I put a blog post in your comment section!! xo
You must have known by now that I have been with club foot, breast cancer without reconstruction of breast and the scars are a part of me. I have always thought myself to be what I think.. my mind.
I will always think of you as a beautiful woman...no matter how you look. Beauty is not skin deep.
I truly believe those scars can help mold you and strengthen you and become just another part of your beauty. Our society tries to convince us just the opposite. It's a great marketing tool for them.
God made us in his own image, perfectly unique in our own way. You are beautiful Simone.
God bless and have a glorious week!!!
♥,Lilly
My daughter-in-law dealt with the pain of her teenage years by cutting herself and she now has horrible scars on her arms that clearly let everyone know what she did. She doesn't cover them up like she used to, but I find myself having to stand up for her quite often with people who don't even know her.
I think you are beautiful and amazing. Thank you for being so honest and posting with your heart.
Your daughters are blessed to have you!
I have an uncle...a remarkable man...who lives with keloids all over his body, including his face. They are painful and draw the attention of strangers. This man is one of the most beautiful people I know.
Beauty comes from the inside. We all know that. At least, it's what we say. But it takes so much to believe that it is true. What you have written today is beautiful. It is a reflection of your wonderful, beautiful heart.
Thank you!
It is only since my breast cancer that I have been able to look at my body and say "I love you" and it's okay how I look. I have a large portwine birthmark over my left breast (the one that didn't have cancer) and had always been embarrassed by it. Now? It's really nothing compared to everything else in my life and I'm rather pleased with it -- it's something I have that no one else does, in that place, looking exactly like it does.
Scars seem to indicate to us something marred...but your analogy to Jesus and his scars is brilliant and beautiful.
I hope and pray that one day you will be able to embrace your scars, say they are beautiful because they are part of you and who you are.
And God bless those daughters of yours...you've raised them well with hearts of gold and empathy and values in all the right places ♥
Also, thank you for stopping by my blog, and commenting on my coffee. I have many ideas to try, so I will do an update about it later. Have a great day my friend.
Since I've had the pleasure of meeting you in person, I know how beautiful and confident you are.
Society, specifically the media, is not kind to "imperfections" (their words no mine) and it's a crying shame because a person is far more then the texture of their skin. It's the quality of their heart that count and yours is extremely full.
I can appreciate how hard it is for you to see your body changing and not being able to do anything about it. Know my heart is with you and I'm cheering you on.
xoxo
This is a beautiful and courageous post! I wish I could be so open.
Well said, and I for one took a huge step of faith and published on my blog what scar and pain has been going on in my life for quite some time. Sometimes all you want is for your readers to find happiness and joy each time they stop by, but I have found, that they just want you, scars and all and know that like you, they can share in your pain and for once, we can see ourselves in the same light.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
I'd love to meet you in person.
Hugs to you my blogging friend.
You couldn't be more on the mark about beauty and how we all usually define it. There is so much beauty in everything if we just choose to see it that way.