(An edited version of an original sent to me by a young woman incarcerated in the Texas Department of Corrections.)

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy was excited to take a swim in “the old swimming hole” behind his home. Hurrying to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door of his house, shedding behind his shoes, socks and shirt as he went. HE dove into the water not realizing that as he swam toward an island near the middle of the lake, a large alligator was swimming toward the shore.

The boy’s mother, in the house, looked out the window and saw the two as they swam closer and closer together. In great terror, she ran toward the water yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her screams, the boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother, but it was too late. Just as HE reached HER, the alligator reached HIM.

From the dock, the mother grabbed her son by the arms just as the alligator’s teeth sank deeply into his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but she was much too determined and passionate to let go. A farmer driving by heard her screams, ran from his truck with his rifle, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, the boy survived and after many weeks in the hospital and painful therapy, he regained use of his legs, though they were extremely scarred by the vicious attack. Also, on his arms were scars where his mother’s fingernails dug deeply into his flesh in her determination to hang on to the son she loved.

After the trauma, a news reporter interviewed the boy and asked if he would show his legs’ scars. He raised his trousers legs, and with excitement exclaimed to the reporter, “But look at my arms! I have great scars on my arms too! I have those scars because my mom wouldn’t let go!”

You and I may identify with that little boy. We too may have scars, not from an alligator attack, or from anything quite so dramatic, but perhaps unsightly scars from a painful past – even scars of deep regret.

The Scriptures assure that though one may wade into dangerous situations and swim in the cesspools of sun where they are attacked and wounded by the enemy, God still loves you and He “won’t let go!”

Life’s “swimming hole” has many perils. Often, we forget that the enemy lurks and waits to attack. That’s when the “Savior of souls” comes to your rescue. Let your painful memories and scars remind you that God loves you and “He won’t let go!