What if...

Last January I had Honour’s name tattooed onto my arm along with the names of all of my kids. When a friend found out that I was going to add Honour’s name they expressed their concern by asking, “What if something happens and you aren’t able to bring her home?” Knowing how unstable and precarious the adoption process had become in Vietnam recently…it was a legitimate question. Adding even more legitimacy was the knowledge of how permanent a tattoo is. What if???

After pondering the question for about 5 seconds, my answer was simple…”How would that change anything”? She’s our daughter. It’s too late. She’s already been carved into my heart. The tattoo just represents something that has already happened to me. She’s already left her mark, just like each of my other children has.”

There will be times in our lives when a child is not physically with us anymore. They may go off to college or leave home to start lives of their own. We may even experience the heartbreaking loss of a child through death. Or as in the case with Honour, she may be far away, on the other side of the world still waiting for us. Proximity never changes the fact that they still belong to us. They are still our children. We are marked for life.

This “marking” is even a beautiful reflection of the extravagant love of God, who speaks through His prophet Isaiah and promises “I will never forget you. Behold, I have engraved, (indelibly imprinted; tattooed) a picture of you on the palm of each of My hands.” (Isaiah 43:15-16 amplified version)

So yes…tattoos are permanent.
So are children.
So is family.
So is belonging.

My tattoo goes a lot deeper than my skin. Love seems to do that to you.

Our "Tribe"

-Rob