Washed by blood

On the one month anniversary of Papa D’s home going, I was going to share a couple more thoughts about my tattoo, my dad, etc. but after reading what my son wrote on his Facebook page about what his tattoo means to him and why he chose what he did, with his permission, I have decided to share what he wrote instead. But before I do that (of course, because I can't post anything without adding my .02 cents LOL)…..

There are times when you are in the tumultuous "teenage years" with your kids when you wonder if, as a parent, you have failed because of some things that happen or you wonder how you went from being their "mommy and daddy" whom they adore to the "enemy" (ok, enemy is a harsh term but for anyone who has raised teenagers, sometimes that's what it feels like). Back then, I never thought in a million years that when people would tell me “don’t worry, they eventually become human/normal/come back around again” that it really would happen. Fortunately, over the last couple of years, I have been pleasantly surprised that there has been truth to that. While there still have been some bumps along the way, the bumps have gotten fewer and farther between. In the final days of my dad's life and especially in the days immediately following, I have seen a change like no other in my oldest and as a mom, I couldn't be any more proud. And I know Papa D is smiling down and proud, too. I can honestly say, "hey Paul, we done good, honey."

In saying this, I cannot, at the moment, think there could be a more fitting tribute to Papa D's one month home going to the kind of person my dad was and the profound effect his life, as well as his death, has had on some.

So without further adieu, here's Kel's post (love you, Home Slice):

New tattoo, really happy with the way it turned out!

Ok, so now the reason behind it. The words "Washed by Blood" are actually lyrics from a song by Brian Welch, the guitarist from Korn who came to know the Lord. The song talks about how once you make that decision to follow Christ, your sins are forgiven and you get a second chance at life. You don't have to be a slave to all the crap you struggled with before. What most people don't know, because I hid it so well was that I was living a life that was eventually going to kill me or put me in prison.

Despite all the "fun" I was having, I got to a point where I had never felt more empty inside and nothing ever made it better. Then, on April 14th, the day that Papa D went home to heaven, something changed. Papa D was a devout Christian, and even when life threw bad things his way his faith never faltered and for the first time that really spoke to me. I saw the kind of life he had lived and the family he had helped create with my grandma, and the one thing that really stuck out to me was their faith. Knowing that I wasn't going to be able to handle the loss of him on my own, I finally knew what had been missing this whole time.

The day Papa D died is the day I gave my life to Christ, and it has been the best decision I have ever made. So when my mom came to me and said we should go get tattoos on the 1 month of Papa D's passing, this is why I wanted this. Had it not been for him and his wonderful example he lived, I wouldn't have made that decision.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"