I've been contemplating new ink for a while.... While tattoos are a here and there for most people, they have been a part of my life, my story for the past 14 years (eek!) I have lost count honestly of how many tattoos I have, however, I remember coming home from Cancun, sunburned to the shade of burgundy lobster with some asian symbol for "music" that looks more like someone splatted a bug on my back, and my dad screaming at me, chasing me around the house with a dry rag, threatening to rub it off. A lot of people ask me about my ink, when I first started, it was about creative expression, but as I have evolved, so has the meaning of my tattoos. Gone are the days of the "cute" Jiminy Cricket, or the "I wanna be Angelina Jolie" dragon tattoo on my right bicept. My ink has now become a witnessing tool. My major ones, on my arms, especially on my forearm, tell the story not only of what Jesus means to me, but of what He has done in my life, and it gives me the opportunity to share with others.
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| This pic is about 4 years old, but not only do I love the pic,haha (Kirkland can't just not be cute hehe) but it shows the best view of the left arm. This pic is a polynesianish design that represents the ocean, It isn't done yet, but it tells the story of Jonah and the Whale... |
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| This is my microphone. It says "you inspire me to sing to you" With Jesus' nail scarred hand holding the mic. This tattoo on my right arm is a commitment to give God all I have with the talent He gave me. I only want to sing to Him, for Him, and show others His love through the musical gifts He gave me. |
I was carrying around a bitter heart for so long, so
much unforgiveness, that day in Glorietta, God
transformed me, and gave me a tender, responsive
heart.
"Its history, Its poetry" is derived from the Catcher in the Rye.
- "Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You'll learn from them - if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry."
- J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Ch. 24
This is a sentimental tattoo because it reminds me that we can not only learn from our past mistakes, but we can help others in the mean time. Don't live in the past, move on....let God's grace shine through you
The foriegn writing below "its history" is YHWH the name for "GOD" in Aramiac.
"And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] No other commandment is greater than these.”
Agape....
So if you've ever wondered about my ink.... there it is.
I want to get the word "Wretch" tattooed somewhere...as well as this awesome guy:
This is a little praying dude, symbolizing desperation and complete surrender to God.
Tattoos are something I enjoy, something that I have been striving for since the 6th grade. Some people relate to them, and others loathe them and thats ok. I'm happy to say, my parents came around. My dad now sports a couple while my mom sports 3. We all have different ways of witnessing or relating to people, and whatever you are into, use it, use it to find others who are into the same things, and use it for the Glory of God. Spread the word....Love God, Love People....Go. (FBC Farwell)
What are your thoughts on tattoos? Do you have any? What do they mean?
