JP: Piercing

A few summers ago we vacationed in Florida for a week with our family, my parents, my brother Mike's family, and my brother Kip. We were joined there by my Mom's cousin Darla and her two children and their kids. Mom and Darla began to share stories of how they had to haul different kids off to the emergency room as a result of either self inflicted wounds or wounds that they had inflicted upon each other. They also shared stories that did not reflect well on the intelligence of their offspring like how we ripped the car doors off by backing out of the garage with the doors open, egged the neighbors house from the back deck, drank shoe polish, etc. All of these stories concluded with same question, "Where was the mother?"

Never in a million years did I ever think that I would be taking myself, let alone my family, to a tattoo parlor named Freaks. Yet, I did. And no, amazingly there wasn't really anyone inside that I would consider freakish. Outside, strange - yes, but freak - no. We probably don't run in the same circles with most of the people that were in the waiting area (yes, we did see someone we knew), but not because they were freakish. Let's just say we have different interests.

We had promised Ashton that for her 18th birthday she could have her nose pierced with the following stipulations - 1) We are not cows, therefore no bull rings, 2) We are not living among some recently discovered primitive African or Amazon tribe, therefore no bones through the nose, and 3) it must be cute, dainty, and pre-approved, therefore no safety pins or hoops (no offense, Dakota). Freaks, it turns out ,was not what we had envisioned at all on the inside. As a matter of fact, Kristian and Ashton were trying to figure out how we could do a similar ceiling in our school room. Not only were we getting a nose pierced, but also decorating tips at a tattoo parlor. Now bares the infamous question, "Where was the mother?" She was right there behind the camera, although she couldn't watch when it actually happened. We both were right there. It was a family affair with Mallory there via texting (of course!) It was awesome!! Mike P. would have loved it. Amazingly there was little, if any, blood, no pain, and it really was fast. Ashton was happy and her birthday desire fulfilled.

It brings to mind another piercing. That of Jesus. What a contrast to what we had experienced at Freaks. There was alot of blood that day. There was alot of pain that day. But it wasn't fast. The suffering was long. And we have to ask the infamous question, "Where was the mother?" Oh, the bible tells us she was there (John 19:25). And the Father was, too. After it was over, Jesus was happy and the desire He had for us that resulted in His birth was fulfilled, if we receive His birthday gift to us.

Any future trips to Freaks on the horizon? Me, I've got all the holes I desire.

Jeff