What next? thought Salvation Army pastor Margo Goodger. The retired major was not as spry as she used to be, but the desire to do what she and her husband, Martyn, had done for years at churches from coast to coast—spread the Word of God to those who would listen—was as strong as ever.

“We had a wonderful time in ministry,” she says, “seeing people grow spiritually, especially women and children.”

With her outgoing personality, Margo had always had a desire to reach out to people.

What can I do now that will stand the test of time? she thought to herself.

And then the idea came to her: a tattoo.

Don’t Give Up

“I reflected on the future and decided that, whatever happened to me, I wanted to be marked for the Lord,” says Margo.

She thought the idea was inspired; her husband, not so much.

“I had to cut Martyn some slack,” smiles Margo. “After all, he is a fourth-generation member of The Salvation Army, and tattoos are frowned upon generally. So I had a challenge on my hands. We wrestled with it for months.”

It finally reached a point where Margo told her husband, "Listen, if you don’t take me to get my tattoo, I’m going myself.”

The couple found a tattoo parlour and drove over to make an appointment, but when they got there, Margo took three determined steps—and went flying face-first into some ornamental bushes.

As she was taking inventory of anything she might have broken, Margo thought wryly to herself, I’m going to hear about this from Martyn!

Sure enough, when she hobbled back across the road and got into their car, an amused Martyn smiled and said, “Well, the way I look at it, that was God telling you not to do this.”

Margo replied, also smiling, “Well, the way I look at it, that was God saying, ‘Be steadfast. Stay with it. Don’t give up.’ ”

“For God”

It took Margo a few weeks of thought and prayer to figure out what she wanted to get tattooed on her arm (scroll down to see a detailed photo and explanation of her tattoo).

“It had to be personal and universal.”

But when she did, the resulting positive feedback pleasantly surprised her.

“I showed the tattoo to an older Salvationist and, to my surprise, he was amazed and thrilled.

“And one by one, people started asking me at church about my tattoo,” she says.

Far from disapproving, her Salvation Army friends thought her tattoo was marvelous.

“I have had so many opportunities to witness.” Major Margo Goodger

“I have had so many opportunities to witness,” she says.

At restaurants, wait staff approach her to ask about her tattoo.

“And when I explain its meaning, they reply, ‘That’s beautiful.’ ”

Margo will often approach someone who is tattooed and says, “You know, you’ve got incredible tattoos. How would you like to pick out your favourite, most meaningful one? Tell me about yours and I’ll tell you about mine.

“And when I share, they listen!”

Margo has interacted with dozens of people in this fashion.

“I’ve had so many different opportunities to speak to people, and I keep at it. Even Martyn has come around!”

“God, use this tattoo for Your honour and glory,” she prays.

“Not my honour and glory,” she is quick to add. “This is for God.”

Margo Goodger's Tattoo in Her Words

1. Rejoice!

“I am glad and thankful every day because I belong to God and He belongs to me.”

2. John 3:16

“My faith in a nutshell: ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ ”

3. Faith, line, two circles and flowers 

“The line represents the earth and the two little circles cradle seeds. Nobody knows they are even there, but you believe they are. It isn't until little bright green shoots break through into the sunshine that the ‘God-mystery’ (faith) is confirmed.”

4. Growth, a tree and a present

• Galatians 5:22: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
• “As Christians, we should produce the things that God has designed us to produce. That’s our responsibility.”
• Romans 12:6: “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
• “That is the gift that God provides, taking into consideration our personalities and our growth, and God gives as He sees fit.”

5. Butterfly

“I looked at that little butterfly and thought, that’s the perfect picture to explain my joy and how I feel, the flight I feel in my spirit.”

6. Three Dots

“The three dots represent the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.”

7. Hebrews 11:1

“This is my favourite verse in the Bible: ‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’ ”

8. Heaven

“Once we have lived this life, we are eligible for heaven.”

Photos: Courtesy of Margo Goodger

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