When I was in college I got a poison dart frog tattoo. I got it to remind myself that I may be tiny, but I am strong and I am okay and I am made by God. Okay, the "made by God piece" wasn't quite formed that solidly when I was in college, but it's still true.
But, when I got it, the tattoo was about me. About me claiming myself.
When my youngest son was around two he began kissing my frog tattoo. For some reason he thought tattoos are for kissing. Once, when we were at the bus-stop another mom's tattoo was peeking out the bottom of her short's leg and he walked over and kissed her tattoo...because that's what he thought you do. I had a bit of explaining to do.
My tattoo had become about him. It was about him claiming me; carrying a piece of us around as he experienced the world.
When I started blogging my random thoughts, however insignificant they are, it was about sharing something more. Something that wasn't only about me....but about God, about life. It was about connecting all the 'me's' of the world in cyberspace.
I've been given a lot of frogs over the past 15 years. They sit on my desk, hang on my wall, rest on my bed, ink my body, and sometimes find their way onto the lobes of my ears. I can tell you who gave me almost every one or where it came from. My tattoo, which started out about me finding me, became me finding others and others finding me. I like that.
Recently we moved and my youngest son was scared getting on the bus. Scared is not an adequate word - terrified maybe, distraught possibly, insecure probably. So, I grabbed the closest thing to me - my work bag. My work bag is covered with pins and patches. Quickly I unpinned a little frog pin and fastened it on his pocket.
I pin that frog pin to him everyday right now. I wish I didn't have to. I wish he didn't need that visible reminder, but he does, at least for now. I know what that's like - to need a reminder. Heck, a pin is a whole lot less permanent than a tattoo.
It's little bit of me attached to him. And in some ways, it's a little bit of you too, because all of us have our insecurities, worries, and fears. Pinned to him right now is the whole "you may be tiny but you can do this" piece. A little courage in his pocket. A little you are loved and beautiful and made by God tacked on him.
It's little bit of me attached to him. And in some ways, it's a little bit of you too, because all of us have our insecurities, worries, and fears. Pinned to him right now is the whole "you may be tiny but you can do this" piece. A little courage in his pocket. A little you are loved and beautiful and made by God tacked on him.
Frogs and whispers. Birds and songs. Me and you. These are the things that get us through and make us who we are. May you learn who that person is and may you help someone find who they are.
Christine: I enjoyed this blog very much, and I love frogs too! We noticed your tatoo at the picnic, but I
ReplyDeletedidn't know it was a dart frog. I've been collecting frogs now at least since I was 22; 28 years now. Frogs are also seen by the chinese, I believe, as peaceful.
Beth McCallister