Today would’ve been our 19th wedding anniversary. It’s interesting as I look at my ring. I’ve never been a big jewelry person. When Wayne and I were dating and talking marriage, I actually dreaded the thought of having to wear a ring on my hand the REST.OF.MY.LIFE
.
At the time, I was working in radio promotions and always active setting up events, digging through station vans, moving tables and equipment, etc. and I didn’t want some big, pronged diamond sticking up, banging around and snagging stuff. That’s why I knew a “tension setting” where the diamond is more flush with the band was the one for me, so Wayne had this ring designed.
But it wasn’t until a few days ago, I considered the spiritual parallel of a tension setting and a Godly marriage. You see, a tension setting is only effective when pressure is applied by both sides pressing towards the gemstone. And a hard stone, like a diamond, must be used because a gem that’s too soft may fracture under the intense pressure of the setting.
Track with me here….
To have a successful, healthy marriage, both sides must constantly push TOWARDS each other and not away. And the couple’s “diamond” should be the solid rock of Christ…because marriage brings intense pressure. Can I get an “Amen?”
When you chose to place “soft gemstones” at the center of your marriage (i.e. career, kids, money) and pressure is unequally applied, the stone will get out of alignment, crumble and eventually fall away.
Are you pushing towards your spouse or away from? Is God at the center of your marriage or have soft gems taken His place; thereby pushing you away from Him and towards things that will cause your marriage to crumble under the pressure of life.
I’m so thankful Wayne and I had 18 wonderful years of marriage….and I’m also incredibly sad to have not been given more. Of course, we dealt with plenty of pressure during those years. But we always pushed towards each other, worked things out together and built our marriage on the cornerstone of Christ.
I shared this on Facebook eight months after Wayne died; April 29th, 2019
