I know that You say we will be given new bodies in Heaven. Ones that aren’t plagued by aches, pains, and illness. And oh, what a glorious day that will be. To see those once bound by a wheelchair running down the streets of gold. And the heads once made bald by cancer treatments filled with lush new hair. 

But, God, I do have one request.

Can I keep my scars in Heaven?

You see, I’ve become quite attached to some of them and the lessons they have taught me. 

RELATED: The Scars Remind Us We Lived Through the Pain

Like the one under my lip, from the car accident that could have easily taken my life at 16 years young, but You spared it. That experience ultimately led me to pursue a carrier in EMS so I could pass along the favor done for me. And once upon a time, I hated that scar. It was so blatant on my face. But it has faded some, and I’ve really come to appreciate that part of my story. 

Oh, and the ones on my legs from barbed wire and falls off horses. Those remind me that I’ve had some fun and lived to the fullest even in the midst of challenges. 

My hands are quite worn and marked from time spent in the kitchen, garden, and performing various manual tasks.

I would like to keep them that way.

They make me think of generations before us, who worked so hard to give their children the best lives they could. It’s so obvious to me how those blessings have been passed through our family. 

RELATED: My Scar Reminds Me He is Faithful in Unexpected Ways

Perhaps my favorite scar is the C-section scar that has been re-opened three times to allow my babies to be safely brought into the world. It reminds me of a mother’s love and those first few days snuggling a newborn. Even though there was a fair amount of pain, there was incredible joy. Joy that could only come from You. 

And Lord, I can’t wait to see Your scars because they saved the world.