My youngest son is nearing 18, and he wants a tattoo. While the jury is still out on whether or not he gets one while he’s still living with mom and dad, his top choice for what he’d get makes me proud.
G = God
> = is bigger
Λ = than the highs
V = and the lows
My son has been through a lot already in his life. He struggles as we all do. Yet, he also knows and wants to show in a permanent way, that God is always with him and that God is greater than anything he has gone through or will go through. Many adults twice his age can’t say that with his confidence.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
I won’t share my son’s story here. It’s his to tell. I will say that for him to make this his permanent testimony inspires me because I know the highs and lows of that story.
No matter what he has yet to go through or accomplish yet in his life, my son will hold to this truth. And he both challenges and inspires me to do the same.
cycleguy
It will be a good talking point for anyone who asks. I am not opposed to tats but don't care for the sleeve and to be plastered with them. But to each his own. I'm glad I don't have to face that though. 🙂
Kari Scare
In the big picture, him getting a tattoo is quite minor. It's a preference. The big picture is that he's willing to make this statement about his faith. That's where I'm choosing to focus.
bettydraper1947
Good choice. In my son freshman college year he got a tattoo but never took his tee shirt off when he would come to visit us since he knew I was so against them, aids was my worry. EVeryone eles in the family knew he had one until a year after he got it and he forgot, took t-shirt off, there it was a small little on his shoulder. I felt bad that I caused him such grief but was so proud of him that he thought enough of me not to cause me frustration. We had a great talk about it and he told me he was going to get another one, something patriotic, I said a flag would be nice, thinking it would be a small little one like his other one.
He decided to go big now that Mom was on board. An artist friend drew him a tattered flag that looked like it was sewed on. Very cool, it was red white and blue, beautiful but it was so big, covers his whole rib cage, part of his back and part of his front. a couple years after he got it he came to Papua New Guinea and went out to visit his sister in the tribe. They women do tattooing for beauty on their face, dots, marks, etc, all black, battery acid mixed with dark wood that is burned. Those tribal women went crazy over Jared tatoo of red white and blue and was always outside the house yelling for him to take his shirt off. He was a hit with the Yembi ladies and they still talk about him. He has gotten several more and started a sleeve , halfway done the lady doing it quit, it's all patriotic, he is a Marine so of course that is on his arm too. Some girlfriend and I did the old needle and thread on the end dipped in ink when I was about 15. I put my husband name on my arm, had it taken off years ago, it was not very cool looking. I will never get another one and my son has said when he gets his sleeve done, he is done. We will see. I think you are wise to have the perspective you have about it. I did so many dumb things when I was young and lived through them and God has used all of them in some way or another to mature me and help others. Praise God he wants to show off God. Thanks for sharing that Kari.
Kari Scare
Thank you for sharing your son's story and your testimony, Betty!
Mark Allman
Kari,
I think it is a great testimony.
Kari Scare
I agree!