The Palms

Years ago Isaiah 49: 16 - “See I have carved your name on the palm of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” - resonated with me. While I was at Christ Our Savior in Livonia, MI, every youth in the program had a cement block they could graffiti in any way they chose. So many blocks. They were covered up with paneling when the new youth director came as we all have our own way of doing things. Recently, they were uncovered, and I took pictures of them. Mine was not able to be uncovered, but I still see it. It had this Isaiah verse on it.

My son-in-law and daughter have many tattoos. My son-in-law, Detman, asked me to go with him once to watch him get some of his done. He has the Gospel message in pictures all around his upper arms. Beautiful work that tell the greatest story ever told. A nice witness. As I watched, I was convinced I could never, ever do this. I have no pain tolerance. None. I am very squeamish about blood and seeing healing happening.

However, when I read this Isaiah verse again today, I was reminded how I wanted to get a tattoo in the palm of my hands with my children’s names and now my grandkids. I thought about it again, but read this: “Getting a tattoo on the palm of your hand is in a challenging area for both artists and healing due to thick, fast-shedding skin, high pain levels, and frequent use, meaning it requires a highly experienced artist and meticulous aftercare to potentially last, though fading is common. Expect significant pain, swelling, and a messy healing process with potential for fading, but a skilled artist using proper technique can achieve good results that hold up well.” Thank you AI! I will not be getting this done but can picture it on my palms. Maybe someday I’ll have a picture drawn of my palm with their names on it to hang on my bedroom wall so that I can see them before falling asleep and have “their walls ever before me.”

Isn’t it wonderful that God has our names carved in the palm of God’s hands? And I think of all the pain that would cause, but more importantly all the pain endured on the cross and the nails in his hands/wrists. All the blood. All just for us, because God loves us so much! Thanks be to God.

One of the graffiti blocks from Christ Our Savior in Livonia for the youth band that gained so much popularity!