The ancient quote I'm getting tattooed on my arm.

It's a reminder for my sobriety and a reminder of who I am. But more importantly, it's a reminder of God's grace.

I’m a tattoo guy. I know there are still some holdouts in the Christian community who like to cite scripture and say tattoos are bad or wrong, but I’m sorry you’re just incorrect. (That verse in Leviticus you like to use requires a lot of context that you’re choosing to ignore.)

I currently have nearly 10 tattoos, and they all tell a story of deep meaning. My goal is to have a “sleeve” on my left arm, and by the end of the month I’ll be almost there. That’s because I’m getting three more tattoos — and all three of them have something to do with my sobriety.

I’ve already mentioned I’m getting two dates added: the date I committed to sobriety, and the date I took my last drink. Those will go right next to where my watch sits, so that whenever I check the time I’m reminded of those times in my life.

But there’s another tattoo I’m getting as well. This one will be much bigger. In some ways, it’s become a mantra for my life. It’s old; very old. And it dates back to some of the earliest Christians. In fact, it’s so old it’s hard to pin down who exactly said it, but there are references to it strewn throughout history.

And it’s been a long time coming.

The quote

This quote is one I’ve mentioned before, but I’m not sure I ever unpacked completely what it means. I think when you hear it, you may want to embrace it as well. Here it is: