So what do these all have in common? Well, let me tell you the story………
Two Friday’s ago, I and my lovely boyfriend, Lance, made the journey to one of my favorite places in the whole world–my Grandma’s farm! There really isn’t any place like it. As we made the final turn down the country road, you could see the two weathered silos, old white barn, and inviting, well-used farm house to the left. There are always memories here! And this weekend proved to make another one.
I didn’t have a picture in the winter…just imagine snow too. 🙂
That evening as Lance, Grandma and I sat around the table playing cards, Grandma sighed, “Well, I am tired, I think I will head up to bed.” I looked at my watch…8 o’clock? Now, most of you know 9:30 is my bed time, so I am the one that is a grandma… my Grandma usually goes to bed later than I do!
Lance and I sat on the couch reading a book after Grandma was tucked in upstairs. I could not help but think, were we boring my Grandma? After the chapter was done Lance mentioned, “So… I wrote a song.” (This is not unusual due to the fact that he is a very gifted musician.)
“Oh yeah, what is it about?”
“Well, let me sing it to you.”
As he started to strum the guitar, I was hoping we wouldn’t wake up Grandma. His precious words filled the room, and the sweet love song he was singing FOR ME filled my heart as well. After the song was done he gently said, “Teresa I do not just want to love you with my words, but I want to love you with my actions.” He left the room and I heard the water running. He came back with a water basin and knelt down by my feet and started to wash them. Now this may seem peculiar to most of you, but it is an act of putting another first, doing the dirty work, humbly showing love to another……like Jesus (see John 13:5-15).
While he was washing my feet he asked, “Do you remember one of our first emails when I asked you what it meant for you to abide in Christ?”
“Yes.”
“Remember what you said?”
“Yes…I think…. It is having a relationship with Jesus, inviting Him in all aspects of your life, seeing what He is doing and joining Him. Like hanging out with your roomie. The more you hang out the more you tend to pick up on their behaviors. Like God, the more you are with Him the more you become like Him in character.”
“Right, and I have seen you abide in Christ and seen Him use you to touch others. I would love to abide in Christ with you, so together with Him, we can touch people, love them, and be an example (bear fruit). What I’m asking is, will you marry me?”
“Yes!!!”
Lance and me soon after the proposal!
After a BIG hug, I actually looked at the ring. It isn’t your traditional ring….which means there is another story! I do love stories!
A verse in John 15 says, “I am the vine you are the branches. Remain in me and you will bear much fruit apart from me you can bear nothing.” Now this may sound like a different language. But Jesus is using a metaphor here. He is the vine; He is the one who gives us life, feeds us, gives us purpose–the one who does things through us. If I do not have Him, I can do nothing. So the ring is designed to remind us with whom we need to abide. The band is textured so that two branches come together and in the center is a diamond with leaves coming out. The bottom of the band is not textured because Lance and I together cannot bear fruit. But once we abide in Christ, once we make Him the center of our relationship we can! So the engagement ring fits inside a wedding band which is completely textured all around (vine). Altogether, it will give the appearance of two branches coming out of a vine and bearing fruit together.
What a great reminder for us the rest of our lives! We MUST remain in Christ if we want this marriage to have an impact for our King.
