Rings on My Fingers 1

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I’ve often noticed that younger women wear fewer rings on their fingers than older women, and I may have figured out why–at least, I know it’s true in my case.

I wear my wedding ring and engagement ring because I’m so happy I’m married to Ray. My engagement ring is special because Ray picked it out for me. My wedding ring is special because it once belonged to his grandmother. It even has his grandparents’ initials engraved on the inside.

The ring next to those once belonged to Ray’s mother, and I wear it because she gave it to me. On my right hand is a ring that once belonged to Ray’s grandfather, Notty the First. On my right pinkie is a little dinner ring my Daddy gave me one year for Christmas.

My memories of that Christmas are some of my most vivid Christmas memories. Before Christmas Day, Daddy told me that he had bought Mother a dinner ring from our town’s only jewelry store. I have many memories of that store. I went there to get earrings when I got my ears pierced. That’s where Ray and I picked out our wedding dishes, glasses, and silverware (Oneida stainless, not silver). They wrapped the prettiest little packages, topped with a tiny handmade ribbon rose.

I found this original one in Mother’s cedar chest.

Mother sewed for Joan, the store’s manager and daughter of the owner. She always fascinated me. She was a petite woman and very pretty with bright red hair and freckles. She had one child, a little boy named Peppy. His name stood out among all the Mikes, Rickys, and Steves of my hometown.

On Christmas morning, when I opened my present from Williams Jewelry, I thought I had opened a present for my mother. When my mother opened a present that was also from the jewelry store, she thought she had opened one intended for me. Daddy had also told her that he was getting me a dinner ring. We each knew his secret for the other one, but not his secret for ourselves.

Each of the rings on my fingers is very special, and I leave them on day and night. The next time I see a lady with rings on her fingers, I’m not going to assume she’s puttin’ on the Ritz (or the glitz, or the bling). Maybe her hands have a story to tell. If you see an older relative, or a widow at church or in your neighborhood with rings on her fingers, you might make her day if you asked her to tell it.

I have one more ring story to tell, which will explain why this blog post came to mind. I look forward to sharing that story with you tomorrow.

In Jesus’ parable about a prodigal son and a waiting, loving father, the wayward son made the wise decision to go home. Think of the story his finger had to tell after that.

So he got up and came to his father.
But while he was still a long way off,
his father saw him
and felt compassion for him,
and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
And the son said to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven
and in your sight;
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
But the father said to his slaves,
“Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him,
and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 
and bring the fattened calf, kill it,
and let us eat and celebrate; 
for this son of mine was dead
and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.”
And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:20-24

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To get things started, I will be sharing a series of 10 short videos and emails starting February 11. If you’d like to get in early, here’s your chance. Tap the link and follow the instructions to join and then share with your friends. You’ll be entered to win a $250 Airbnb gift card!

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One comment

  1. For what it’s worth, I am an older woman (over 50) who doesn’t wear rings. It has something to do with the shale of my hands. I tried dutifully to wear at least my flat wedding band for the first ten years of our marriage. As my knuckle enlarged and my actual ring size got smaller, it became more uncomfortable to wear rings. I even asked for a larger size as a replacement. That ring slipped off my finger one day, and was gone forever. Long story short, my precious rings sit in a jewelry box where they are safe. I am no less thrilled to be married to my husband of nearly 30 years. I just can’t physically wear rings.

    I’m eager to discover what your ring saga entails.

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