Being Beloved.

This is Jennie's actual beautiful wrist.
I did not ask her permission to use this picture.

Here's what I love: Being Beloved.

My sister-in-law got a tattoo.  Actually, this is her second tatt.  I have had difficulty condoning her dabbling in body-art because I was taught from a very young age that tattoos were taboo.  My dad drilled it into me that getting a tattoo would be oh-so-permanent and there might be a time when I would regret having Tweety-Bird emblazoned on my ankle/thigh/forearm.  He would even point out old, wrinkly people with old, wrinkly tattoos and ask if I wanted to look like that one day.  It is a well-known fact that tattoos look better on 20 year-old skin than 80 year-old skin. 

So, after years of being told by my parents NEVER to get a tattoo, I finally adopted their opinion and decided that I would never put anything permanent on my body.

However, after cousins, co-workers, and multiple friends revealed their various tattoos, I finally came to realize that having a tattoo does not make someone a bad person. (Duh.)  This may make me sound like a total idiot prior to this realization, but nevertheless, it describes my metamorphosis from snap-judgment girl to “God-looks-at-the-heart” advocate. 

However, even though my ignorant prejudice was corrected by lovely, close relationships with those in the tattoo crew*, I still held my deep conviction that I would never succumb to the ink.  I also met more than a hand-full of friends who did regret getting a lizard/flower/heart on their ankle/arm/neck.  Some were even going through the painful and costly event of having the tattoo removed by laser.  Hearing these sorts of stories made me even more sure about my decision never to have Bill’s face inscribed on my buttocks.

(*Not an actual "crew" or club...that I know of.)  

Then, I became intrigued by tattoos with meaning behind them.  This may sound silly, but it took me a while to realize that there are some pretty powerful reasons to have a symbol permanently placed on your body.  I began to not only accept a person’s choice to get a tattoo, but even respect it. 

Meaning changes everything.

My sister-in-law just had the word “Beloved” tattooed on her wrist.  She said that she wanted the constant reminder that God loves her.  And even when days are crappy or she’s feeling ugly or sad or forgotten, she will look down at the permanent promise on her wrist that she belongs to God and He is crazy about her. 

Magnified by the fact that her earthly father died unexpectedly two months ago, she is longing to feel that love and be reminded of it.

And the truth is that His unfathomable love is everlasting and constantly surrounding us by His grace.  This love is unstoppable, abundant, and reaches farther thanwe can comprehend.  As huge as God’s love is, it’s also tenderly, miraculously poured into our hearts—comforting us and strengthening us. 

God’s love for us is vast, pure, constant, gentle—yet powerful—and completely sacrificial.  We are so beloved by God that He gave up His son to die on our behalf. 

Yes, my sweet sister-in-law was deeply loved by her earthly father and is profoundly loved by her heavenly Father.  We all are. 

By that love, He reaches out His hand to us and invites us to trust Him and walk with Him into eternity.

So, tattoo it on your wrist, but know it in your heart: God loves you no matter what!

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds,
And I will write them on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.

Hebrews 8:10