Disclaimer:
The following blog post may become slightly opinionated. If you don't want to hear it, please disregard and go about your day.
Thank you.
Ok, so Lonnie got a few new tattoos this last week. On his birthday, that was one of my gifts to him, we just haven't been able to schedule it in yet, so he just got his present.
There are two of them. They are on the inside of hid forearms. They will not be hidden by a short sleeve shirt as the rest of his existing tats are.
I am not wild about the placement of them, but I am wild about the man, so oh well.
They are in Hebrew, one says Yaweh, and one says Jeshua, these are the Hebrew names for God, meaning "God is with us", and Jesus, meaning "the one who saves"
The fact that he got more (his others are : and Eagle, Globe and Anchor,- the Marine Corps symbol, a super man shield, some tribal around the superman shield and one his leg a cross that says semper fi over it and John 15:13 under it.) has evoked much conversation, as well as the placement of them.
Here is the deal, I totally understand the stigma that goes with tattoos. I get it. I am not an idiot. However, Lonnie does not have "prison tats" or "gang tats" they are just about the furthest thing from that.
Also, if any one has ever met him, they will realize very quickly that he does not fall into that mold. Really he doesn't fall into any mold very well or for very long.
He is very clean cut. Well educated and well spoken. He has incredibly high standards, both for himself and for those around him. He pays great attention to detail. He is also very responsible and compassionate.
He simply happens to like tattoos.
This does not change who he is. Or what he stands for. Or the Father, husband, man that he is.
The question was posed to me how would I feel if my kids, mostly my boys followed after him. This was meant in the context of the tattoo issue. I have thought a lot about it.
I would be so honored and proud of my boys if they turn out like their Daddy. To be married to the woman they love for over a decade. To have all of their children call that woman mommy. To work hard every day, through every pain to provide for their family and those that they love. To make necessary sacrifices to go through school while raising a family and paying a mortgage. To Love God. To have the desire of their hearts be to honor Him all that they do. To long to serve God more each day than the day before. To show compassion to strangers, help teens work on cars in parking lots, care for their children's friends as their own, and still manage to have some fun in life.
Yes. I am 100% certain I will be very proud of my boys when they grow up to be like their Daddy.
If they choose to put a tattoo their body, as a visible reminder to themselves daily that God made them, loves them and died for them, then I will be ok with that.
I am very aware that this is also a generational issue. People of my age do not view it as a very big deal. The generations above us have a different view point.
My conclusion to the whole thing is this, if you like tats and have some, or want some, then good for you. Do it for you, not to show someone else.
If you don't like them, don't get them. No biggie. But I don't think that anyone out there has the right to condemn anyone else, or look down their nose about it.
I think if we are all really very honest about it, many more people have them than we realize. Just ask around, you might be surprised what you find out.
But the tat does not make the person, nor does it change the person.
I could probably keep going for quite a bit about this. It kinda makes my blood boil, but I think I may go to far, if I haven't all ready.
No comments:
Post a Comment