Did a three-ring circus come to mind? How about hobbits and Middle Earth? Actually, I am going to talk about three elusive wedding rings.
When Tim and I went shopping for his wedding ring, I was surprised when they sized his finger. His knuckle was so large most rings he tried on wouldn’t go on past it. After several tries, we finally found one that was the perfect fit. Then came the day he changed the oil in his truck. After he came back inside the house, he realized his wedding ring was gone. The oil had made it easy for his ring to slide over his knuckle without him realizing it. Needless to say, there was no retrieving that ring. Tim was very upset, so I assured him we would buy him another one. Which we did.
He wore that ring for a few years. That it is until the day he decided to work in the garage and clean it up. He came into the house and showed me his ring finger on left hand. “I think a spider bit me.” Sure enough, his finger had begun to turn purple. Of course, he didn’t want to go to the doctor. I suggested he take his wedding ring off in case his finger became more swollen during the night. He didn’t think it would, so he kept it on. I’ll give you one guess what happened. Yep, the next morning his finger had swollen. While the ring wasn’t tight enough to cut off Tim’s circulation, we cut the ring off just in case.
We had a jeweler repair his ring. After Tim wore it for a few months, the ring broke in the place it had been repaired. That ring was now done. Again, I promised him we would buy him another one. But we got busy and kept putting it off. One fateful day Tim and I waked out of the IGA in Harbinson Crossroads. A local church had set up a table on the sidewalk. They were selling items to help support a woman’s shelter. Laying on the table was a man’s black band. Tim slipped it on. It was a perfect fit. We paid for Tim’s new wedding band. He was very happy with the band and with the fact he was also helping somebody else. Then he had an accident at work.
He came home from work one day with a deep gash in the knuckle of his left ring finger. This time Tim immediately took off the black band. After his knuckle healed, he went to slide his black band on his finger, but it wouldn’t go over his knuckle. Apparently, the scare tissue had kept the knuckle from returning to its normal size.
“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:6 (KJV)
I have to admit, I thought it was sweet that Tim was so upset over not having a wedding ring. Obviously, our marriage means a lot to him. It does to me as well. But I know that Tim isn’t any less committed or married to me when he doesn’t have a ring to wear. Besides, God is the One who joined us together and we rest in that fact.
As of today, we still haven’t gotten Tim a new ring. He said he wouldn’t mind having one of the silicone ones they make now. As for me, I hope nothing ever happens to my wedding rings. I don’t want a silicone diamond. Just saying.
Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.