The Ring

When Mom and Dad were married, it was for forever. People kept the promise 'til death do us part in those days. When Dad placed the wedding band on Mom's finger on their wedding day, it was on for life.

Mom never removed that ring. It is a thin band of gold that is part of a 2 ring set. The engagement ring came off for baking bread, painting and any dirty work. The gold band remained on her finger. Always.

Mom lost the diamond out of her engagement ring. At the time, it would have cost at least as much to replace the diamond, as it would to get an entirely new set of rings. The gold band remained where Dad had placed it all of those years prior. And they bought a new set of rings for her to wear ... as well as the original band of gold.

Eventually, Mom had a garnet put into her original engagement ring and kept it many more years.

Then ... there was a time when she gathered all of us together (just her kids). During that visit, she had a gift for each of us. She gave our brother a 'promise' of her wishes concerning her (new) wedding rings at a later date; and she went through her own jewelry box and gave each of us girls something that was precious to her. She gave me her original engagement ring.

The engagement ring that Dad had given to her and placed on her finger, along with that simple band of gold. I was awe struck, to have been given such a precious gift.

We spoke of other things at the time ... such as her wedding band. She specifically told us that she wanted to wear it forever. Of course this was her decision to make and hers alone. We all knew the story of that band of gold that was placed on her finger forever ... and forever it would remain. We honored, respected and whole heartedly agreed with her choice. We knew that it was the right thing to do.

I love the story of that most simple band of gold that has remained on Mom's hand from the moment the words "With this ring, I thee wed ..." were uttered.

Now, we live in a day and age where bigger is better when it comes to engagement rings. We live in a disposable society where marriages rarely last forever. There is much too much energy spent over the size of diamonds in the engagement ring. There is so much status given to that set of rings that (though placed lovingly on a loved one's finger on their wedding day) may or may stay on that finger forever.

When people talk of engagement and wedding rings, my mind always returns to the gold band that Dad placed on Mom's hand on their wedding day. A day that was not full of the pomp and ceremony of today's weddings. A personal promise, made in front of Dad's brother and Mom's sister. The promise they made was to each other ... and it was made for forever. They meant what they said. To this day ... that ring remained on Mom's finger.

Remained. Yes ... past tense.

My mail box was full to overflowing with birthday cards yesterday. There was a bulky card from Mom that I left for last. I assumed that she must have found some kind of lumpy card.

I don't even know if there is a word that describes what I felt when I opened her card ... to find her original wedding band enclosed.

My heart cracked a little. That ring is hers. Forever. And she entrusted 'forever' to me ...

Thank you doesn't even begin to cover it. This is the most precious gift I've ever been given (second only, to her engagement ring that comes off my hand only for repairs).

As I laughingly flung my hands and arms around with my glittery jewelry that I wore for the dance showcase, I stopped and touched Mom's engagement ring and stated "This one stays on. Mom and Dad are right here with me, with this ring."

I was already blessed and I knew it. This ... this is almost too much.

Do I appreciate it? There is no gem in this world that I would trade for this simple band of gold.