The Ring

You girls are mad at me, aren't you? You're mad because I haven't shown you this amazing ring. Well...here's the story of the ring...

Let me back up first to talk about my ruby ring. Several years ago, Olivia and I studied Elizabeth George's book Beautiful in God's Eyes, which is her study of Proverbs 31. A well written study, if you ask me.

On January 6, 2006, I read a chapter called A Sparkling Jewel, which talks about Proverbs 31:10 - "Her price is much higher than jewels." In some Bible translations, that verse says her price is higher than rubies. That always confused me, because I thought diamonds were the most valuable jewel. But Elizabeth said this:

The rich red ruby is truly a unique gem, and because of their rarity, large rubies even surpass diamonds of equal wight in value!

Then she said this:

Each of these sparkling jewels is quite rare and valuable. Each is hard to harvest and few are found. And that's the imagery our young prince's mother uses to impress upon him how extraordinary a woman who is beautiful - in God's eyes - would be. Once found, she would be of inestimable value!

And next to that, in my book, I wrote, "Become a ruby!"

To remind myself of what I wanted to become for Mr. Missing (now Mr. Found!), I bought myself a ruby ring and wore it on my ring finger on my left hand...every...single...day. And I told myself I would leave it there until the man who chose to marry me replaced it with another ring...the ring that he felt represented our love and relationship.

And so it was that this ring...

...was replaced by this ring.

Isn't it lovely?

We'd gone ring shopping and in that adventure, I learned this: I wanted a white gold solitaire ring with a thick band and a princess cut stone. And for a wedding band...a plain white gold band. I wanted something with a little character - but very simple.

I tried on several rings but none of them made me tingle in my toes.

We went ring shopping a second time and that time, I spied a ring in the case that caught my eye. I asked if I could try it on. The ring had far too many diamonds on it to suit me, but I declared if it were just a solitaire, I might like it.

You know what I liked about it? The diamond was set in a "kite" setting (meaning the diamond looked like a kite rather than a square box in the setting) and it had edges all the way around the diamond instead of prongs. I'd never seen either thing in a ring and I loved it. I also loved the way the band curved ever so delicately.

And I had no idea that Ryan had already purchased a ring. A ring he had designed himself. A ring that looked suspiciously like what I was in the middle of declaring I loved.

I love everything about this ring. I love how thick it is. I love the two pieces that come over the ring and hold the diamond in place. Reminds me of how we are two people with a foundation on the Lord. I love the character of the ring. I love it that no one else in the whole world has one just like it.

I kept my ruby ring. I want to remember my calling from God to become a rare jewel in Ryan's life. After we were engaged, I slipped the ruby ring inside the ring box that once held my engagement ring. I might wear it on my right hand now and then.

But now, I am SO in love with this ring. It is what I would have designed if I'd known to design a ring. I love it that Ryan knew my heart well enough to know this is what I'd want.

God's beautiful Proverbs 31 woman was the sparkling jewel in her husband's life! She brought the love, the color, the joy, the life, and the energy to the home. - Elizabeth George.

Beside those words in my book, I wrote "My dream!" Abba, may my dream come true just as he has made mine come true.