This morning I found a jewelry box next to two dozen roses in the kitchen.
Oooohh….jewelry! What could it be? My husband cautioned me, “It’s nothing new.”
When I opened it I was delighted to find my refurbished 10 year anniversary band that I haven’t seen for months. He gave it to me on a surprise anniversary trip to Aruba almost 10 years ago. We were sitting on the beach at sunset and he handed me his Bible. He asked me to read the verse marked by the bookmark in the Song of Solomon. When I opened to the marked page, the ring was tied to the ribbon bookmark. This was a precious re-enactment of his marriage proposal on the beach in Santa Barbara 10 years prior.
This ring is one of my very favorite possessions. However, over the years it has had it’s flaws. It keeps losing the tiny gems. I keep taking it back. They fix it. I take it back. They send it to Asia. I take it back. They send it to headquarters. I pick it up….
This time it went under major reconstruction which took many months.
It made me think of the parallel journey of marriage and relationships.
Although marriage starts off so special to us, our very favorite relationship, along the road, it might start lose it’s initial sparkle. It might require some refurbishment. It may even need some professional help.
But you keep doing what it needs because you love it.
The jeweler offered for me to get a brand new design/ a new ring, since we have had so many problems with this one. But I love this ring. And who is to say that with a new ring it won’t have it’s own problems?
Today my ring is like new. It is beautiful and sparkly with all the gems in tact. I am hopeful that it will not lose anymore. But, even if it does, I will continue to care for it and get it all the help it needs.
Just like my marriage. Just like love.
