It's for the rest of your life

Tattoos are permanent and a lifelong commitment, the same as marriage.
~Chester Bennington~

I was out shopping this morning and ran into a young lady who looked to be in her early 20's.  I really didn't pay her much mind at first but my brother who was with me did.  "Did that hurt?" I heard him ask her and turned to see what he was talking about.  She had a tattoo on the back of her hand that traveled up her wrist and part way up her lower arm.   The young lady replied that it didn't really hurt but she sure regretted having gotten it - and several others she had.

First, let me say that I don't like tattoos at all.  I don't care how pretty the artwork is or how skilled the artist is at making them look real.  I don't like them, have never liked them and will never like them.  Having said that, I don't judge anyone who has tattoos - in fact, both of my sons have tattoos and I love them dearly - the sons, not the tattoos.  I also know that they are good, decent and honorable men so I never assume that anyone with tattoos is less than that because of their tats.

Getting back to the young lady - when she made her comment about regrets, I simply said "it's nice to hear someone admit that".  She then touched her head that was recently shaved and said she also regretted coloring her hair because it was falling out from the chemicals.  I have to admit, she looked good with her hair shaved and told her that.  Then she pointed to her baby daughter sitting in a stroller and said "I hope she learns from my mistakes".

I've thought about her almost constantly since we parted.  I had a strong feeling that I wanted to help this girl but didn't know how.  I still don't but I can't seem to get her off my mind.  I wish we'd have exchanged names or something but it really didn't seem appropriate.  I'm a strong believer in Divine Intervention and am positive that if God gave me those feelings, then He will bring us together again and guide me to helping her.

Of course, maybe it's just that I had a maternal instinct since she was young enough to be my daughter.  Her mannerisms and quiet acceptance of her past actions impressed me, I think.  She didn't make excuses or blame someone or some thing else.  She owned her past actions and seemingly is prepared to offer herself up as an example to her daughter.

I don't know what anyone else might think, but I'm thinking that little girl has a pretty good mom.