It used to be a quarter.

It used to be a quarter. Then my husband got ahold of it. He spent long hours tap tap tapping

with a silver spoon to coax the rim of the quarter in such a way as to make it a smooth band.

Then he drilled out the middle and began the tedious task of filing and sanding to make it just

the right size and shape to fit my finger.

He placed it on my finger on our 20th anniversary and said, "Will you marry me" I, of course,

smiled and said yes. But I knew in an instant those weren't just empty words. We are different

people than the ones we each married twenty years ago. We've grown and changed and

stretched. And yet, somehow, we're better. I would still marry him today. We giggled a bit

because we were standing in the garage at the time. He said, "I was going to wait and give it to

you on the floor by our bed" (That's where he proposed to me...on the floor of my room at my

parents' house. Isn't that romantic? We've never been about flashy anything. And that's

perfectly okay with me!)

As I began really looking at this ring, spinning it on my finger, and taking it all in, several

thoughts flooded my mind. When I look at this ring I see:

❤️ A priceless heirloom

❤️ A fantastic story

❤️ Something ordinary turned extraordinary

❤️ Beautiful, unique imperfections

❤️ A visual aid for restoration

❤️ A reminder that God makes all things new

❤️ Something created with incredible time, intention, and attention to detail

❤️ No end in sight

And aren't those all things that a marriage should be? Marriage is to be a priceless heirloom

passed down to our children with a fantastic story to go with it. Each day is a reminder that

God's mercies are new every morning and He makes all things new and beautiful. A beautiful

marriage is one that has nicks and scrapes and slight imperfections. It is honest and real and

transparent. It is hard work. It is created with incredible time, intention, and attention to detail on

each spouse's part. And if we do it right, it has no end. (The circle could also be representative

of the crazy cycle which we've been know to jump on over the years, but even that makes us

better and stronger when we let it.)

❤️ This ring means more to me than mere words can express! I love the marriage it represents,

but both pale in comparison to the love and respect I have for the amazing man who walks this

marriage road with me! ❤️