Freshman year of college, after nearly a year of sharpie on my ankle, I got a tattoo of a “Jesus fish” on my inner right ankle. I loved thinking about early Christians drawing the symbol to signal to others that they knew “The Way”. I wanted to mark my body, permanently, but somewhat discretely (it can be covered with a small Band-Aid) that I belonged to my Creator and was living my life by His Grace. Much to my mother’s dismay, I love this tattoo and am still proud of the commitment it represented/s, but you know what they say, “you can’t have just one.”
For several years I plotted and thought and laid out and planned, drawing different things on different parts, doodling in my journal and researching meanings. I was never totally set on what I wanted, so I waited. It was fall of 2021 when I found (or read) what I knew it would be. Romans 11:36– “From Him through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the Glory forever. Amen.” This is the greatest truth in my life. It is not mine, it is all His, and this tattoo would be a constant reminder of that Truth. With the “what” decided, I needed to figure out the where. The hope of it being more visible led me to get it on my wrist. I was set and pretty excited that I knew this new encouragement and reminder would be in front of me, always.
Adding to Paul’s original words from Romans was not the intention, but on December 30, 2021, I read an equally profound Word. “Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Tim 6:12. I immediately went to my Blue Letter Bible App to compare translations and meanings of “Take hold of”. “To take in the hand, in order to use it” was my favorite.
Just over two weeks later, I had these two reminders inked into my skin and for nearly six months now, I have bathed in their truth daily. Initially, I thought they would be more of an evangelistic opportunity, but long sleeves and the fact that I am just not that interesting to other people (not a plea for pity, just an observation that I think much more about me that other people do) truly made the tattoos what they are meant to be, a reminder to me of who and who’s I am.
On my right hand, just above where the nails would have been driven through Jesus wrists as he died for my sin, ἐξ δι εἰς (from, through, to). The right is the place of honor, this is where God belongs. This truth gives me hope and strength in whatever circumstance I am facing, because it is all from, through and to Him. Mirrored on my left wrist is ἐπιλαβοῦ (take hold of). I am right-handed and my left hand is significantly less coordinated and weaker. This is a reminder that I can only take hold of the life to which I am called by His grace and strength in me (Ephesians 2:8).
I am so grateful for these truths and the freedom to have a more-than-daily reminder of the implications they have on my life. Maybe more people will ask what they mean, and I look forward to sharing with them these truths that have been so life-giving. I am still working to take hold of this life (eternal even now) and look forward to discovering the intricacies of that calling, but I think sharing them here may be part of it.
Feel free to comment! What are your thoughts on tattoos? What do your tattoos mean to you?
If you’d like to go back to the beginning (hard to believe it was over a year ago already) you can read this.
