Scars

“Zipper Neck” – that is the name people affectionately call themselves in the Chiari world that have been through similar brain surgeries as MJ. I am not too particularly fond of it nor do I plan to ever introduce MJ to that term/description. I don’t ever want to make light of what MJ has been through. Now I suppose at some point in his life someone along the way may use the term, or someone possibly insensitive could use it with the intention of being hurtful. That is okay, because we plan to help MJ understand the story God has given him through this circumstance.

You see, scars show there is a story to tell. And what Dan and I pray to do as MJ grows up is never let him forget that. God knew when MJ was created just what challenges he would face in life, and what he would need to overcome them. This brain surgery is part of who he is now and it is the story God has given him. Scars are a symbol of pain and brokenness, but God can give us peace and purpose through the pain of our past.

The last two months have been a roller coaster for our family. As a dear friend described “the rug has been pulled out from under them”. MJ has had plenty of medical issues to deal with but never in my biggest fears did we ever think he would face brain surgery. God has provided for our family in amazing ways and gotten us through a hurdle in a very scary and difficult time. MJ is still here and doing amazingly well considering all he has gone through in the last month. And although we don’t know the conclusion of this chapter in his (our) life yet – we know God’s hands are all over this.

What our job is now as parents is to help MJ grow up to know that no matter what continued challenges he faces in life - that it was, is, and always will be in HIS hands. We should always give everything over to the Lord, and pray with open hearts to release the power of our own personal stories to glorify Him. That is one of the reasons I write this blog…to share my stories. I pray with each post that somehow God is using it in someone’s life. If we don’t use our stories we are given to share with others, to love others, and to help others understand God’s amazing love then what are our stories and our scars for?

Yes, our scars are a story of pain and brokenness. But God’s scars are a story of forgiveness and healing and the story of God’s unending love. Just as the disciples recognized the resurrected Jesus when they saw His scars, others will recognize the Healer Jesus when we show them ours.