My Social Media-less Life

I haven’t been able to write about my tattoo because it seemed weird to talk about. Not for any particular reason, but that month that I had issues writing (June), I tried more than once to blog about this and it just never seemed like the right time. I guess that time is now.

Back in June when my bestie Rachel and I went to a convention in Springfield, there was a whole tattoo parlor there for the weekend. I only talked to one artist and her husband, but as soon as I saw examples of her work, I knew I wanted her to do my first tattoo.

What I didn’t know was that I was actually going to get one by the end of the weekend.

It’s wild to think about now because I was so nervous about it. There were some things I told God I wanted to do with my life that I felt getting a tattoo would be against those things. During this whole weekend, the Lord said one thing to me:

“The world isn’t going to end if you get a tattoo. And I was never the One that told you, you couldn’t get a tattoo.”

I still struggled the entire weekend with the idea of getting one simply because… I had never had one before. It would have been obvious to us all if I had. I always had a peace about it, especially once I heard the Lord, but I wanted to make absolutely certain what I was getting was exactly right because you can’t really change it once it’s there. You can only cover them up (or remove them, but that’s WAY more expensive).

But I had been thinking about getting a tattoo for almost two years by the time I met this artist, and I wanted something that has always meant a lot to me with a message I can tell that didn’t look too gaudy or weird. Plus, it got to the point in my life where, not getting one would have been the bigger regret.

So I got a Dumbo tattoo. I found this design on the internet (finding something that’s not a low-res picture when you don’t have social media is not the easiest job in the world) and after doing some tweaking with my artist, this is what we came up with.

After 3 months, it’s kind of crazy to think that I’m still really excited about my ink. And now that I’ve had it for this long and it’s not going anywhere, my nephews and niece have started talking about it more.

My youngest nephew is OBSESSED with elephants probably about as much as I was at his age, so he was overjoyed to see it and now that he can touch it, he likes to rub my arm sometimes just to make sure it’s going to stay. (It’s kind of funny to see)

Yesterday, my niece and I were watching her oldest brother and her dad (my oldest nephew and my brother) play a game of 1-on-1 basketball while at Grandma’s house. She very boldly looked at my tattoo while rubbing it (presumably to make sure it wasn’t going anywhere) and said:

“The elephant is [youngest nephew], and this top heart is for me and the next heart is for [second oldest], the next heart is for [oldest], and the last heart can be for you.”

To say it was very kind of her to let me have at least ONE of the images on my own body would have been an understatement in that moment. She was really debating how she could manage fitting her parents in the whole picture somehow when there are only 5 “separate” images. 😛 (She really is a kind-hearted little girl and I love that about her.)

After my niece declared where everyone went in this picture, I decided it was time to tell my blog about the ink. Mainly because that story makes more sense when you know that I have something on my arm, but also just to finally get the whole truth out there.

The real reason I got the tattoo is not too far off from my niece’s assessment honestly. Since I’ve always loved Dumbo and was obsessed with the movie as a child, I knew I wanted something lifelong to remind me of the lessons everyone can learn from Dumbo: be kind, be empathetic, and most of all, encourage each other. The hearts were a reminder of my nephews and niece, and why I keep on keeping on. Next to Jesus, family is the biggest reason I do just about anything.

The other reason I think I waited to write this blog was because of something someone said to me the next day…

“Isn’t it sinning to have a tattoo?”

Both that person’s spouse and myself looked at that person with the same “are you serious right now” expression, but it really did bother me… and maybe more than I wanted to admit even to myself.

My mom was upset with me, sure. Ink CAN BE expensive, it CAN BE a waste of time, and regret CAN become a factor down the road. Getting a forever thing really is something one should think long and hard about. But my mom even said, “It’s your body. Do what you want.”

But that person that straight up thinks tattoos are a sin (because they still do think that) really does bother me. I think to myself, Did I ever think that?

To my knowledge I never did, but the Lord reminded me of the reason I got the tattoo: be kind, be empathetic, and most of all, encourage each other. He reminded me that not everyone is at the same place in their relationship with Him and that they DO have a ministry that requires something different from them than mine does from me. Both that person and the wider world in general.

That’s not to say there aren’t things out there that you can go do just because of something like a “gray area” in the Bible. Really seek out what the Lord wants for YOU; don’t just take my word and experiences as an approval to do something.

Tattoos have been in the “gray area” department forever because many Jews (maybe all of them?) believe that absolutely nothing should mar the skin and have their own Scriptures to back it up. I have a friend with sleeves of ink who can also use Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments proving why tattoos are biblical.

(She even sent me a bunch the day I told her about this person and then quoted Captain America, “I can do this all day.” I asked her not to continue but I was glad to know she had so many readily available)

I am learning there are going to be scores of people that aren’t going to love the fact that I have a tattoo, and there are going to be those that will probably say I’m going to hell because I have one. If anything, I felt a real peace about the whole ordeal: from the first time I met the artist and her husband to the time I left the studio that late summer evening three days later.

Do you feel real peace when you’re sinning? I’ve never had that, but you can let me know if you have. (I’ll wait…)

After about two months, it occurred to me that although tattoos are a constant reminder to the wearer, they are a great way to tell a story to the people around you, plus they give an automatic open door to tell people a little about yourself.

I’m still working on a quick “elevator pitch” story with my little Dumbo, but it at least brings a smile to people’s faces when I tell them I got it to remind myself to be kind. And honestly, that’s a pretty great start.