I wanted to share a picture of myself with you that I didn’t want to share with you, but it turns out I can’t share it with you because I don’t have it. Confused yet? Sorry! I had originally planned to start this post with a picture of myself from a few years ago, when I had a nasty scab on my lip. But I didn’t really want to share it because even though it was several years ago, thinking about how I looked then still makes me feel ridiculously self-conscious. But I was going to share it anyway. Because I made my character in my newest book show her scars (not on the cover, but in the story), so it seemed only fair for me to do the same. Except, when I went to look for the picture, it turned out, I didn’t have one. I can only assume this is because I wouldn’t let anyone take one.
It happened almost exactly five years ago. A week before we were supposed to move to a new city, new home, and new church, I fell in the parking lot of our previous church, with my youngest in my arms. I still don’t know how it happened. One minute I was on my feet; the next I was literally flat on my face. Somehow, my daughter was uninjured, but I ended up with quite a nasty gash on and above my lip…which became a thick, bumpy, brown scab by the time we moved.
I can still remember arriving at our new home and seeing all the cars of people from our new congregation waiting to help us move in…and while I was touched by their willingness to help out, I was also self-conscious that all these people would see me with this hideous scab on my face. And then a couple days later when the church hosted a dinner to welcome us and we had to sit at the head table as we were introduced, I was even more mortified. What would they all think of how I looked? Did they know I didn’t always look like this? This wasn’t the first impression I wanted to make as the new pastor’s wife.
Looking back on it, I can see that it was silly. No one cared about my scab. If they wondered about it, they never let on. And of course, it eventually went away, though it did turn into a scar that still dips into my upper lip on one side. My husband says the scar makes me a superhero because somehow I managed to keep our daughter from getting hurt in the fall. I’m not so sure that’s true, but I’ll take it.
I have other scars too, of course. There’s one on my wrist from when I was bitten by a dog as a kid. That scar reminds me that I didn’t let fear win—I remain a dog person to this day. And there’s a scar on my ankle that (though painful at the time) brings up fond memories of a family canoe trip down a shallow river that required me to get out and pull the boat (right into a rock, with my ankle in between).
Like me, I’m sure you have scars too. It’s hard to go through this world without collecting some bumps and bruises along the way. Maybe some of your scars bring up fond memories. Maybe some make you feel like a warrior. Maybe some remind you of fears you’ve overcome.
But there are also scars we’d rather forget. Maybe scars we try to hide. Scars that make us feel ugly or ashamed or unworthy.
Those are the kinds of scars Ava, the heroine in my newest book, Heart’s Healing, has to deal with. Her scars are the result of a terrible accident, and they are impossible to hide completely—as much as she tries. But worse than her physical scars are the emotional and spiritual scars that make her feel unworthy of love. Since the accident, she has let those scars define her. She has used them as an excuse to push love away. But with her high school sweetheart back in town and determined to show her that his love is as strong as ever—and more importantly, that her true identity is in Christ—she might just find that her heart can be healed after all.
Right now, Heart’s Healing is available exclusively as one of the thank you gifts you’ll receive when you pre-order the Love’s Treasure box set—a set of 14 books by some of your favorite Christian authors, including Inspy Romance authors Valerie Comer, Marion Ueckermann, Elizabeth Maddrey, and Mandi Blake (oh, and me too). The pre-order price is only 99 cents, and all pre-order proceeds will go to Village Enterprise, an organization dedicated to lifting people out of extreme poverty in Africa through entrepreneurship. All the details of the set, including the 12+ bonus books you’ll receive as a thank you gift when you pre-order, are available on the Love’s Treasure website!
How about you: Do you have any scars that make you feel like a warrior or bring back memories?
Love may be the greatest gift—but only God’s love can transform these couples’ lives…
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INCLUDED IN THIS LIMITED-EDITION COLLECTION:
Juliette Duncan: Because We Cared
Autumn Macarthur: Nothing More
Marion Ueckermann: More than This
Joy Ohagwu: A Royal Inheritance
T.K. Chapin: One Love
Lorana Hoopes: A Second Chance for Christmas
Elizabeth Maddrey: So You Love to Hate Your Boss
Evangeline Kelly: Love’s Sacrifice
Valerie Comer: Ruby Radiance
Naomi Rawlings: Love’s Violet Sunrise
Valerie M. Bodden: Heart’s Home
Melissa Tagg: Someday Soon
Mandi Blake: A Thousand Words
Carol Moncado: The Lifeguard, The Runaway Bride, & Frozen Custard
Valerie M. Bodden has three great loves: Jesus, her family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). She writes emotion-filled Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. Her characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but true to her tendencies as a hopeless romantic, she will always give them a happy ending. Valerie is living out her happily ever after in Wisconsin with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their four children. Visit her at www.valeriembodden.com to get a free story.
Thank you so much for sharing with all of us! I have already pre-ordered the set and am looking forward to it!
I have several scars on my body from falling as a child and from illnesses. I was a girl who was very much into adventures and daring things. I am so glad that my dad was the town medic and he could take care of me. In all my shenanigans I never broke a bone. I have a scar on my chest for a port that I used for chemo. Many people have asked me if I am going to do something about it. My doctor said she can recommend a surgeon but I do want to fix it. I want God to use it to start a conversation with people in how He healed my from Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I want people to know my story because it is God’s story.
Hi Valerie! As a German immigrant, I have scars of being bullied during the Red Scare of the 1950s. As a woman, I have scars of overcoming the retort that the only reason I went to college in the 1970s was to get my M.R.S. degree. Therefore was determined to graduate from college and teach a year before, I got married.
On a different note. Today is Day 9 0f 30 Days of Thankfulness. After retiring in 2012, this avid reader daily searched Amazon for free Kindle books or books under $1. In 2014 I purchased Valerie Comer’s Raspberries and Vinegar – A Farm Fresh book. Living in a farming community in SW Michigan, I enjoyed the book. At the end of the book was a link for the blog Inspy Romance. I signed up for the daily emails and have been following the blog ever since. Through Inspy Romance I met many wonderful authors around the world. Thank you Inspy Romance for a wonderful journey of discovery – new authors, new publishing techniques (series, boxed sets, themes, subject matter and more). Enjoy the diversity of the authors. Inspy Romance remains my favorite blog and website. Best wishes to the authors. Stay safe and healthy. Happy writing, blogging, publishing, designing, and promoting.
Yay! Thanks for pre-ordering, Paula Marie!
Adventurous children do tend to end up with a lot of scars! It’s amazing that you never broke a bone in all of that. :) And I think it’s wonderful that you want to use the scar from your chemo port to share your story about how God brought you through your cancer. It’s amazing the avenues God can give us to share his love!
Hi Renate! Thank you for sharing about your scars. I can’t even imagine going through something like the Red Scare.
And thank you for your kind words about Inspy Romance and the authors here. I have to agree that it’s a wonderful place to be (even if I may be a little biased, lol). But it’s a blessing to know how much you appreciate it. Blessings to you!
No, though I have also somehow fallen flat on my face, broken a tooth which gashed through my lip leaving a minor scar. The can be so much cruelty in the world and the unseen scars are the ones I would love to see healed. Congratulations on the releases, perfect timing for Christmas :)
Thanks for sharing Valerie. It can be hard to face other people when our scars are showing. I also got many scars while being an adventurous kid. I once rode a bicycle through a barbed wire fence. Coming from a farm family with 11 children – children’s bicycles were not common. We all learned to ride on Dad’s man-sized bicycle. Not easy and no hand brakes. I also rode said bike across our yard and, in trying to park it against the side of the house, I rode it over the open cellar sending me and bike down the cement steps to the unfinished basement. Permanent scars from both incidents. The scar that makes me feel ashamed though was a huge one on the bridge of my nose after getting pre-cancerous tissue burned away. When the scar was at it’s worse, one of my aunts died in another province, and I didn’t go to the funeral or visitation because I didn’t want all my cousins to see me like that. Pride goeth before a fall. I missed the chance to see some cousins whom I will never see again in this world, and it hurts to admit that.
So thankful for God’s grace, and for family and friends., and for Godly authors.
So true, Dianne. It’s the unseen scars that are often the hardest to deal with.
I was grateful not to break a tooth when I fell on my face.
Yikes! I cringed at the thought of riding a bike through a barbed wire fence–and through open cellar doors. Painful to even think about!
My dad had to have some pre-cancerous tissue burned off his face too, so I know how rough that process can be. It can be hard to let others see scars like that, for sure. I can understand your regret at not going to your aunt’s funeral. What a blessing to know that by God’s grace you will see your loved ones in heaven one day.
What a great post! I have scars on my right wrist & hand from when I broke my wrist and had to have a plate and an external fixator attached, then re-broken and re-plated, and my right pinky finger had to have surgery, and two carpal tunnel surgeries on the right, too. I have scars in almost the same spots on both legs below the knees for melanoma, and slightly above the right elbow for melanoma, too. I do think of them as battle scars, especially the melanoma ones, though they all show that I’m definitely a survivor!
Oh wow! I’d say all those scars definitely show you’re a survivor! I’m glad you look at them that way!
Hi Valerie, your book sounds very intriguing and I love the book cover it looks so sweet and so touching to the heart. Yes, I have some visible scars . I have had thyroid surgery and a surgery for a disc and a scar from my hysterectomy, I had a cyst, one on my foot and one on my leg from growing up, scars define us and that is life. I also see you as a hero, you shielded your little one. Thank you for sharing your awesome and inspiring post with us . Have a Great week and stay safe. God Bless you and your family.
I have a scar on the back of my calf from stepping on a coil of barbed wire as a teenager. (I was somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be!). And a scar on my ankle from tendon surgery. So uplifting to read about all the cancer survivor scars. Bless you all!
The story sounds wonderful Valerie!
I have a scar on my neck from the surgery (cancer). Yes, it is a reminder of the hardest and darkest days BUT it’s also a reminder of the faithfulness of my Savior who was beside me through the journey! Blessings!
Thanks, Alicia! You’re so right that scars are a part of life and they are a reminder of the things we’ve gone through. I have no idea how I managed to keep my little one from getting hurt–it all happened so fast that I didn’t have time to think about it. But I thank God for keeping her safe!
Oh, ouch! Some scars do remind us of things we’ve learned the hard way–and I’m sure you didn’t go to that spot again! I agree that it’s uplifting to read of all the cancer survivors whose scars are a testament to what they’ve been through.
Thank you, Natalya! I love that you see your scar as a reminder that your Savior was with you through even your hardest days!
God bless you Valerie. I agree that scars on the outside are hard to overcome, but I also believe that it’s the ones we hold hidden inside that really test our faith and understanding that we are children of a Mighty and Powerful Father. Dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts all my teenage and adult years has been something that I carry around and often feel ashamed to even talk about it. But, I am constantly reminded in His word that I am loved and that I can constantly put those shame and scars at His feet and just know that He carries me through it all. Thank you for your words, I found your books and haven’t been able to put them down. Be blessed and stay safe.
I was born with a cleft lip. Before I had my second surgery, the scar was very noticeable, and people were very unkind. Even now, after the second surgery at age 10, which eliminated a lot of the scar tissue, people still say insensitive things. No amount of makeup can hide my scar.
You are right about the scars we hide inside often being the most difficult to overcome. What a wonderful blessing that we can lay them all at Jesus’ feet! Thank you for sharing your own internal scars–I know that takes courage. And I also know that it may bless someone else who needs to hear that right now.
So glad to hear you’re enjoying my books! :)
I am so sorry to hear that people would be so insensitive about your scar. It’s a sad reality of this world of sin we live in that people are often unkind. I suppose it makes us cherish those who are kind even more. And I thank God that his love for us doesn’t change no matter what anyone in this world says or thinks.
Thank you for sharing. I have scars that make me feel both ways. It depends on the day and my mood. I try to look on the positive side of life, but there are some days that are a lot harder than others. I have torn the quad tendons off both of my knees at separate occasions. Each knee required two surgeries to fix the tears. The left knee required fifteen months being in a straight leg brace. I will never be the same. I am now able to walk and stand for very short distances. The doctor and physical therapists were not sure if I would ever be able to walk without the brace. I have been doing so for about a year.
Hi Debra! You make a good point–the way we feel about our scars can change on a daily basis, and there are certainly days that are harder than others. I’m so glad to hear that you’ve beaten the doctor’s odds and are able to walk without a brace. God is good!
I have a scar on the bottom of my foot. It happened when I was about 12 or so when I went canoeing with the camping group my parents were a part of. I stepped out of the canoe to go back on land and I cut my foot on a soda can tab (you know those old ones). They had to carry me to where they could do first aid on me, but I couldn’t walk on it for a long time (it hurt so much)!
I also have stretch marks from carrying my kids, but those I like to call my tiger stripes…lol! Those I EARNED :-)
Of course there are emotional scars that nobody sees, but God has healed me of over the years.
I like to see characters in books who have hidden scars but work through them with the Lord’s help & from those around them that care about them. We’re imperfect people who need God & good friends, so I think characters need to be the same.
Oh, that sounds painful! I’m sure you’ll never forget that trip! I love that you call your stretch marks tiger stripes…definitely hard-earned! And worth it. :)
You’re right about the emotional scars–they go so much deeper. I love to see characters work through them with God’s help too. It makes them so much more real.
My scars are more inside than outside. Some inflicted by others, some from my own immaturity growing up. This is where I think the truth that “Perfect love casts out fear” has its greatest application. God’s utterly faithful presence and His nurturing heart can bring healing, even to old and deep wounds. It is soooo good to be loved by Him!
This is so true, Lincoln. This inner scars inflicted by others and by ourselves can be the deepest. Love that verse and the reminder that because of God’s perfect love for us, even our deepest wounds are healed.
Hi Val! I pre-ordered and am enjoying the first of the bonus books now. After almost 30 years in an abusive marriage I agree the unseen scars are the hardest to work through but have such a power to be used by God. Outer scars…..after 24 surgeries I have plenty! I am blessed to have them all hidden by clothes, the longest being about 3 feet in length. After losing 300 lbs I have a great deal of excess skin but thankfully that’s mostly hidden as well. I consider that my boost when I feel I can’t accomplish anything where it was hard earned. The worst I ever had that showed was when I face planted on carpet up against the wall and slid a couple of feet. My glasses broke and cut my cheek and had the rugburns literally rip the skin off my lip & cheek and of course nasty bruising all over my face! That made me look quite a fright for some time but surprisingly I have no real lasting scars! That taught me to be diligent with taking my vitamins and NEVER try to stand & walk quickly immediately after bending over for a good 5 minutes minutes! I always have been apt to learn things the hard way!
Hi Deb! Thank you for preordering! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the bonus books! I love that even though you have your share of scars–both inner and outer–you have such a wonderful outlook about how God can use them in your life. That fall against the wall sounds painful–but I’m glad that one at least didn’t leave you with lasting scars. Learning things the hard way seems to be a part of life!