Shapes and Sizes...

The Lord blesses us in so many different ways. Some are big blessings, some are small and tender...and some come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Today, I am so grateful for the blessing I've received.

As many of you know, I am in the process of having my tattoo's removed. When we began the process, initially you go for your consultation and they give you an estimated number of treatments required to successfully remove your tattoo's. They told us, they estimated a total of 9 treatments for all 3 of my tattoo's. We then bought our package covering the expense of all 9 treatments for $1850.00 - not cheap. They explained that if for whatever reason I should need less than my 9 treatments that we bought and paid for in advance, that they would pro-rate our reimbursement. Cool.

Well, I just had treatment #8 today. I am no where near completion, maybe just about 1/2 way I would guess. So, as I am preparing for my treatment, we go through this whole regiment. We take a picture to compare the progression, then we ice the area, etc. etc. It takes a few minutes and I decided to discuss with my RN what our next steps would be in regards to purchasing an additional treatment package and how many more does she think I'm going to need.

She then informs me, that Dr. Tattoff has just changed their policy - like within just days ago - that if you purchased a package according to whatever estimation they gave you at the consultation and you require additional treatment, the remainder of your treatment is FREE. She then said, that she agreed that we're only about 1/2 way through. That means their new policy is going to save Leonard and I almost $2000.00 - money we didn't have and didn't know where we were going to find it. We thought we would have to deffer treatment for at least another year while we saved up more money. Since, while getting my tattoo's removed is important - it is not highest up on the list of priorities.

I can't explain my gratitude right now. There is no other way to describe this as anything other than a tender mercy of the Lord. A true blessing. I know a lot of people don't understand my decision to have my tattoo's removed and I often am asked the question why did I get them in the first place if I was just going to have them removed. The answer is not a simple one...it's not because I found God or because He now has place in my life. The Lord would take me anyway I came to Him. It's for me. It's a very personal thing. Every time I go, yes, it is excruciatingly painful and I am bloodied and it burns and I wish I didn't have to go through this. Healing takes weeks at a time. But after each treatment, it is more than just my skin that is healed.

This process is such a healing experience for me. No one knows that one of my tattoo's symbolizes my drug use and/or my drug addiction. I've never admitted that to anyone. It's not something you want to broadcast. So to have it slowly removed takes me further and further away from that person I don't ever want to be again. Each one of my tattoo's come from such a sad and dark time of my life...a time I will never forget and is still very much a part of me. But I am not her anymore, and I am so far away from being that person that at times I cannot even relate to her anymore.

And I know the Lord knows this. So today, when I got to benefit from the policy changes made at Dr. Tattoff I cannot deny how blessed I feel because of it. Thank you, Dr. Tattoff!