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Why I Wear a Toe Ring

I remember in 5th grade begging my mom to get my ears pierced.

Only one other girl in my class had hole-less lobes so I pleaded my case, “But Mooooooom! EVVVVV-ERYONE has their ears pierced but Heidi and me!”

My super-conservative mom told me if God wanted holes in my ears, I would have been born with them.

I retorted, “Well, if he wanted me to wear clothes, then I would have been born with them on too. So, tomorrow I am going to school nude.” :-)

Mom was bluffing. She took me to the Meijer Thrifty Acres grocery store on my birthday that year where a nice lady in the jewelry department pierced them for me.

The pain was worth the cool.

In college, my friend Carmen and her best friend each got one ear double pierced (cool for that time). They said it would be to remind them that they belonged to the Lord; that they were His slaves.

Exodus 21:5-6 says about slaves (who would be bound to work for 6 years and then could go free):

“But the slave may declare, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I don’t want to go free.’ If he does this, his master must present him before God.Then his master must take him to the door or doorpost and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will serve his master for life.”

I loved Carmen’s idea. An earring to remind me I want to serve God and my family.

However, I am a wimp.  And the pain of the first go-round of ear piercing was enough for me!

In fact, I am so thankful I am not a missionary in a country where, if you don’t have your nose pierced, it means your husband beats you. Or, that I don’t have a hubby that thinks I could totally rock the cute-tiny-diamond-stud-nose-ring look.

If either of these were true, I would use a Barbie stick-on earring there instead!

Well, a few years ago, while speaking at a resort on St. Simon’s Island, GA, a group of us from the retreat went shopping downtown on our free time. There, we each bought sterling silver toe rings.

I wear it to remind myself that I am a voluntary slave of Christ. And that I love my Master and my husband and children.

About my toe ring... at KarenEhman.com

When I see it, I am able to realign my thoughts at those times I want to put myself on the throne. Or, when I grow weary of the serving, and running, and working that is required to be a Christian wife and mom.

I have become so concerned with the many women I meet (and some I know in real life) who have decided the grass is greener on the other side. So, they chuck their families (and sometimes God too!) and venture off to finally “Be happy.”

Now, I am not one who will just sit and wag my finger at them thinking “For shame, you sinner!” God has gently chided me when I have done that in the past saying, “Karen, that could be you someday, you know. Be careful. And prayerful”

Marriage and mothering the way God commands is hard work! It takes patience, time, tears and forgiveness. It requires that we regroup and restart—-sometimes over and over again.

But my toe ring reminds me that this is for life. I am a slave of Jesus and a willing servant of my family. (And it is not a one-way street. They love and serve me too.)

Yes, I am free to do as I’d like. There are no laws in my country against chucking my family and running away. (Come one….you know we moms sometimes dream of running away!)

However, my toe ring reminds me of this:

“Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” 1 Peter 2:16

Will you sign up to be His slave?

 

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329 Comments

  1. I love the idea of the piercing but am a wimp too. Toe ring sounds great. Thank you for reminding us all that we are willing servants of the Lord.

  2. Yeah, I was told that piercing for earrings did not hurt. Well, it did — and since I am someone who faints at needles I still cannot figure out why I got my ears pierced. :) A friend at work wore a toe ring, and I thought of her in reading your post. She was a lovely person inside and out. Thanks for bringing back some memories.

  3. I still remember when a friend of mine’s BF proposed, he gave her a diamond ring for her finger and a diamond stud for her double piercing, to remind her of her commitment to the Lord and to him. Still think that’s one of the most romantic things I’ve ever heard of! As for me, no holes in my body I wasn’t born with, but I do wear clothes LOL I’d love the summer set!

  4. That is such a great reminder…I never would have thought that a simple tiny toe ring could have such a great significance. That’s awesome!

  5. Karen, I think this is a fantastic idea! We all need daily/hourly reminders of who we belong to. It is so easy to get caught up in this world, and neglect what is truly important to us. God wants us to be His 24/7, and not just for a couple of hours on Sunday morning! Thanks for sharing your story!

  6. Thank for sharing such wonderful thoughts. I believe that being a wife and a mother is the greatest gift and ministry God gives to a woman, and i appreciate that by His mercies, i received this gift. Serving your family can be a great way of serving the Lord, if you do all things as UNTO the LORD.

  7. WOW, what a flashback to my own parents! My Dad always said the same thing. My Mom however saw my side but it took until I was 16 to get my ears pierced. Then of course when I was married I had to get another hole in my ear because I was all grown up. I love the toe ring reminding me I am a slave to the Lord and only Him!!!!!

  8. Marriage, mothering, and now, sole care-taking of grandchildren is very challenging when trying to do it God’s way. At my age, I need many reminders to get anything done. The toe ring is a great reminder that I am a voluntary slave of Christ. Thanks for the encouragement.

  9. Karen, Thanks for sharing this. I enjoy reading what you have to say. It is very inspirational.!!! Thank You!!!

  10. I use to wear a toe ring. Love your idea for wearing one. I can always use a reminder that I am a slave to Christ. That you for the post.

  11. Karen, thanks so much for sharing! I so feel like running away, but remembering that I’m a slave to Christ is a reminder that I need!

  12. I saw the title a few times yesterday but I had a birthday party with 16 8 years olds so I didn’t get to read it.. So glad I did this morning, yesterday I saw something that made me want to quit. Thank you for the encouragement.

  13. My Dad was the one who wouldn’t let us get our ears pierced. Same idea. He just thought it was barbaric. But that was back when girls weren’t allowed to wear pants to school. Oh my, I’ve lived lots of years now. I have been very convicted lately of how I like to run away…escape things that are challenging or sad. I didn’t realize this was what I was doing. I thought I was just taking advantage of every wonderful opportunity. But my youngest and only one still in the nest has recently made it very clear, “You’re gone all the time.” While it’s not exactly true, clearly she needs me home more than I am…even if she’s out! Hmmmmm…maybe I’ll get a toe ring to remind me that I have chosen to be committed to God first, family second…and all else third!

  14. What a fabulous idea! I do have a tendency to look down, at my feet, when I am becoming frustrated, so a great visual reminder would be an awesome complement to the Truths in my mind. Karen, you may have just started a new trend :)

  15. Shalom Karon thanks for your thoughts, they mean so much to me. Right now I am visiting my husbands family in the Holy Land. I am thrilled to be here, as you can imagine. My husband is jewish as is his family. My two young daughters and I are the only two believers in the household. We have been participating in their rituals and friday nite meals, we watch them pray from their prayerbooks and recite different prayers. Observing this, I pray to Jesus and thank him for my personal relationship with Him He is my King and only to Him will I be a slave. Thank you Lord for your saving grace!!!!!

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