Before everyone starts assuming I have COMPLETELY lost my mind… I did not go down the street in Guiamaca and get a tattoo. Or anywhere in Honduras.
And before you assume that I completely lost my mind and made some sort of rash decision let me explain this to you:
Five years (or more) ago there was an article in a magazine I received. I can’t remember which magazine but it was about the persecuted church. The article described how a Egyptian Christian had been tortured and martyred for His faith. He had been in the military and had been harassed and then disappeared. His body was finally presented to his family and some really flimsy story was given that didn’t match up with the evidence on the body. They had a picture of his face and his arm. He had a Coptic cross tattoed on his arm. Many Coptic Christians have this tattoo. They had tried to skin his arm after what looks like burns on it. But the tattoo could still be seen.
I remember when I saw this article. I remember telling people about it. Astounded that in our time such things happen. And somehow that mental image stuck with me. And somehow in the time surrounding this article decided I wanted a tattoo.
As tattoos became more common I struggled with the decision. I mentioned it to no one. I didn’t want to be someone jumping on a bandwagon like everyone else. Then Uganda came up. It just seemed strange to somehow decide to do it while involved there. And then Emmanuel.
In Honduras tattoos are associated with gangs. We ask that visitors and team members cover tattoos just to not encourage our kids that it’s a great thing to do. More so because our kids have been know to do things like pierce their ears, brows, lips at home and end up with infections. Last thing we want is homemade tattoos infected. So I put it off again.
But as time went by the thought wouldn’t leave. So when I went home in December I made an appointment and Little D went with me.
No Facebook post. No tweets. No drama or attention. It’s just something for me. For over five ears.
Now that I’ve had it on my arm for over 2 months now I still look down and forget it is there. And at times I look down at it and my heart sighs. It’s a constant reminder of Him.
His salvation.
His love.
His grace.
I’m His.
So I share it with the bloggy world now just so you know. Because it’s now a part of me. And I’m not really trying to hide it. But I don’t tell you for attention. And I really hope those of you who aren’t fond of tattoos won’t somehow decrease your thoughts about my character for such a choice. And for those of you who probably would have liked to have been told earlier or even before the fact please understand it’s just something I was doing for me and needed to keep it quiet for awhile. I’m not about attention, fanfare, and questions.
I’m just a kid of the Almighty just trying to follow Him. Listen to Him. Live in His word. Be lead by the Spirit. And be His.
Love y’all. Thank you for your support and prayers.
It was a year ago today I was approved to come to Emmanuel by OE. And the day I received the email from John West to let me know about CMC. My what has happened in a year.
God is good.
If you can’t see photo click below on link.
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