Let Things Go!

Tattoos were not really ever on my radar. I never saw that in the cards for me. I had a dear friend who had gotten them over the years and she knew a "guy" and so it began! I now have four and I am certain there will be more!

There's so many directions I can go with this thought and frankly, I am not sure where I will land. Knowing me and my squirrel of a mind, I will take you down more than one train of thought. So here goes...

Thought 1: As I typed one of the sentences in the first paragraph, I realized that getting a tattoo was the first time I did something with zero care as to what others might think of it. This was BIG because I've heard they are pretty permanent (wink,wink). Sure, I was in a stage of rebellion and pretty much off the rails, but it was still kind of a big deal. Although the season of rebellion has passed, my draw towards tattoos remains. I still don't seek others approval or permission before getting one. I get them because I like them. I know there are some in my circle who would never get a tattoo and those who may even think that they are inappropriate or sacrilegious. I would like to think that they see me and love me regardless of what is on my skin. Carrying on with something I like, regardless if it could be viewed negatively, is definitely progress for me!!

Thought 2 and the original thought that made me want to write: My latest tattoo is in the picture below. You can clearly see it is a dandelion with seeds being blown from the flower. For quite some time I was drawn to this tattoo and I simply had to have it. I researched the meaning and it resonated. The meaning of hope, resilience, and the ability to adapt to change certainly suits me, but this meaning didn't sink into my soul. In fact, when asked what it meant, I could never remember what I had read and of course that's everyone's first question, "What does it mean?" I would hesitantly say, "Nothing, really. I just liked it!" I even had a little bit of remorse after getting it. "Was I being hasty or silly?" "My goodness it's kind of big!" My other tattoos are a little more discreet and dainty. I didn't admit this regret to anyone but ever so often the remorseful thoughts would creep in my mind.

Fast forward three months after getting it. I was cleaning out an old cabinet in the garage and I came across a sketch book. I knew the sketch book was Ali's from when she was around 10 or 12. I flipped through the pages to see if I should keep it or trash it. At first flip, I was ready to trash it but I flipped through once more just to be sure. That's when I saw it! The sketch of a dandelion with an encouraging statement: "Sometimes we just have to let things go". (Pictured above)

The sketch from my youngest stopped me in my tracks and took my breath away a little. It felt like a gift to see a nearly exact replica of a previously regretted tattoo sketched by my daughter. It felt like a gift to now have soul depth meaning to this tattoo that previously had none. It felt like a gift that I was prompted to flip through the pages one final time before tossing it away...forever!

I was so excited to tell anyone who would listen to my great discovery. I'm certain that they were not as impacted as I was, I mean how could they be? It wasn't their daughter, it wasn't their regret. I was so encouraged and excited and just in awe of what I had discovered!

Some of you will think "well it's just a coincidence" and that's ok! But I don't believe in coincidences! I choose to believe it was a little nugget from God giving me meaning for my tattoo. Finding that sketch warmed my heart and warmed my soul. It made me love my dandelion tattoo more than ever. I cherish it really! I will never regret getting this tattoo as now it has meaning for me from my youngest. She's now 18 and had no idea what she was sketching all those years ago but the Lord chose to allow me to find it to encourage me, to give me a nugget. That's what I choose to believe! Why not??

She's right you know? Sometimes we just have to let things go...the missed opportunity, the failed relationship, the past hurt, your greatest regret!

Carrying these things around, constantly replaying them in our minds, robs us of our future. It robs us of our peace. We all have mistakes, failures, and regret. Wallering in them and reliving them day in and day out doesn't allow us to move beyond those failures, beyond those regrets. We will remain stuck in the past and may even be more apt to repeat them or worse yet, accept them as just "the way it is".

That's what Satan would want, you know? For us to remain stuck, for us to remain stuck in our failures, in our past, and rob us of our future.

"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." -John 10:10

I refuse to accept the notion, "this is just the way it is". It's not the way it is unless we allow it to be. We have to look in the mirror, take accountability for our part in the past, and LET IT GO!

However, there is a caveat to this. I'll borrow a quote from Maya Angelou, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better!"

We are all doing the best we can with the knowledge we have in that moment! Let go of the poor choices from the past. If not, you will be but a shell of a human. Carrying around regret, shame, failure, guilt, keeps us from being who we were meant to be. It keeps us from living a "rich and satisfying life".

I have MANY mistakes I've had to let go of. I haven't forgotten them, remembering them keeps me honest, but I don't punish myself anymore. Those who love me don't punish me either!

This topic makes me think of a well known verse which I've always found encouraging: "'For I know the plans I have for you,'" declares the Lord, "'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give to you hope and a future.'" -Jeremiah 29:11

Let your "things" go! Give them to God! He knew the mistakes I would make before I made them, hence the need for the cross, yet He still loves and adores me! He still has plans for me to prosper. In Him I have hope and a future and so do you. Choose to let it go and lean into Him, choosing the path He has for you!

Until next time...