Yesterday (August 31, 2025) was a beautiful day, a wonderful time with my wife and sons, a celebration of life. What were we celebrating? The four year anniversary of my return home from covid pneumonia. I am still healing, still suffering through long covid with brain fog and fatigue – slept 12 hours today – being two of the worst symptoms, but I am alive!
Every time I shave, I see and feel the scars of ECMO, where the machines were connected to my arteries and doing the work of my heart and lungs. Every time I get dressed, I see the extensive scarring of tracheotomy where machines were connected to my windpipe and doing additional work of my lungs. When I see my arms, there are scars from multiple lines that pushed medicines and fluids. There are times I feel pain or discomfort where tubes used to run through me to give me nutrients and have resulted in internal scarring. Then you have additional scars you can’t see, for example, the ones from ICU psychosis or the ones from facing death.
This singular event in my life is one in a series over a lifetime that has taught me scars are beautiful. They are a sign of survival, of healing, of events that we can experience and grow from, experiences He redeems for our good and His glory. Events in life intended to destroy us can be redeemed into something beyond all we can hope or imagine. Why? Because we have a Creator that loves us far more than our minds can conceive.
Throughout the 4.5 months that I was in the hospital (75 days in the ICU, much of this in isolation with no view of the outside world), I had an underlying peace. I felt the Lord telling me it wasn’t my time yet. He never told me it wasn’t going to be difficult, that there wouldn’t be long term challenges to work through, or no pain or suffering, just that my time on earth wasn’t done yet.
Along with peace, when I was lucid, there was also joy. I shared my unique “humor” with the hospital staff, bringing smiles and laughs and silliness. I would encourage some of the staff in their calling and decisions they were working through. At night, I would play worship music as I tried to sleep. Many commented they were uplifted when coming into my room throughout their shift. There was just something different when entering into the space. That something different is the manifest presence of our loving God, His Holy Spirit.
I also saw sacrificial love first hand. My wife’s devotion was inspirational, her love beyond words. Daily, she fought through traffic to be by my side. The only exception being when I asked her to take a break and friends came to visit (after I was out of the ICU, that is). So, 5 – 6 days a week, she was there. She prayed over me, she sang over me, she shared her presence with me. What a difference that all made.
For those who believe, there is no promise of an easy life. Scripture tells us just the opposite. Life will be difficult, the world will hate us, suffering is guaranteed. But you know what else is guaranteed? He is with us. He will never leave us.
“And they overcame him {the accuser} because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” ~~ Revelation 12:11 NASB2020
My testimony, my story, is filled with scars that reveal just how beautiful life through a redemptive God can be.
-Author Bio:
I have been walking with God as my Savior for 45+ years and as my Lord for around 40. In this time, I have grown deeper in my understanding of the depth of His love and desire for relationship. I believe this is the core of all of history and the lens I now view life through. I have been blessed with my lovely bride of thirty-four years, our four children, and many dogs (currently 2). I am eternally grateful for the Lord connecting the body of Christ through His Holy Spirit so we can support and love one another at all times. Thank you for taking the time to read this. My hope is that through these words, He shines light into darkness. Sincerely, eselliott
Copyright © 2025 Marsha Luke – Rights for non-commercial reproduction granted: May be copied in its entirety, but neither retyped nor edited.