An epidemic began to spread where she cared for the sick. She decided to pawn her engagement ring in order to buy more medicine for her people. Not long after, she became sick. Word traveled back to my great grandfather and he immediately left to join and care for his bride. By the time he reached her, the Lord had already taken her to be with Him.
My great grandfather remained at the village for some time. One day, he went outside and on the doorstep was a box. The diamond ring was found inside. It was the ring he had given to his bride not so long ago. One of the locals had tracked it down and had given it back to him.
Cherishing his first love's memory, he never gave that ring to another. He did eventually marry, but used a different ring. After he died, my grandmother inherited that ring. She in turn gave it to her eldest son to give to his beautiful bride the day he proposed.
That beautiful bride was my mother. For many years, she wore that ring joyfully like the woman long ago and she also had a heart for the Lord. My parents had 5 children and enveloped them with the love of Christ. My mother was faithful in all she did and still is my example of what it means to live is Christ. She then became sick with cancer and the Lord called her home to be with Him.
My dad has since married another, but just as my great grandfather did, he used another ring, cherishing the memory of my mother. He has given the ring to my brother, Titus, who, just like my great grandfather and my father, has fallen in love with a woman who has a beautiful heart for the Lord. Just last week, Titus gave that diamond ring to Alyssa as he proposed down on one knee. We praise God for bringing her into Titus' life and we pray that God will use them for his Kingdom and Glory just as he has with those who have gone before us.
Congratulations to Titus and Alyssa and we look forward to the wedding day!
