Without a Sigh

written by Claire Celiz

September 17, 2009

This last 2 months of wedding preparations has thrown us in total chaos. It started with the drafting of the invitations, and went downhill from there. Our closest friends have felt the pressure. Nio even said we looked so haggard we had to take some time off it. Of course its a bit too hard, because with my three day duties and the hospital work, I was barely staying afloat.

At times I lose my temper. Well, I guess its more often. Sometimes I wake up in the morning feeling weary like I havnt slept at all. And as expected, it took its toll on Christian. And if you know him, you would say that his patience can stretch for miles. But with his hard earned money fast draining, not to mention all those chores I keep on throwing at him, these days its already wearing thin. 

These days, there are times when I think, why is it too hard, preparing for the wedding? I drag myself on day after day, painfully doing one checklist item at a time on our to do list. I think, if this is hard, what would our marriage life be then?

But today Christian told me the story of our ring. Our engagement ring.

We had plans for marriage at the beginning of our relationship. We always talked about it, estimating that it will happen before our second year anniversary. So when Christian left for the States last year, we knew it was God's way of preparing us, emotionally and finally, but it is only now that I realize that God has once again proven Himself to have plans even far greater that our own. 

He told me I always wanted a Tiffany & Co. engagement ring. Honestly, I dont remember really pushing for it. But before Christian left for the States, he was already asking T&Co. Stores at Rustan's for engagement rings. When he got the price quotations, his heart sank. He couldn't afford it. 

On his first month in Atlanta, he felt that God placed him there as an opprtunity to finally buy a ring for me. He called the T&Co. Store in Atlanta, got some qoutations and finally decided on one. The diamond was of high quality, colorless and the cut excellent. He would tell me several time that he had looked into other jewelry stores and the ring was worth a one carat diamond in their stock. I would ask him repeatedly why did he still buy it. He would only tell me, “that is what you wanted”.

It was only tonight that he showed me the ring's insurance papers and its true value. I again asked him, why did you still buy it. This time his answer was different. He told me that God had provided for it in Atlanta. That if he was to buy one of smaller value, it is as if minamaliit namin ang kakayahan ng Diyos. He has asked for it, and God had answered yes. Up to this day he would consider the ring a miracle, something that is way beyond his means. He took it as a firm affirmation of God's favor in our relationship. He told me there are times that we would fight when he was still abroad and he would be left broken, but he would look at the ring and be reminded that God brought us together, and if God can give such a ring, He would do more wondrous things in our lives. He told me, that more that its value, the ring symbolizes all that God is in our lives. Tonight I am reminded again the true reason I am to be married.

When I look at the ring now, I am struck by awe at God's ways. It is a palpable wave of gratitude to the One who brought Christian and me together at this point with its little miracles. I praise God for such a God fearing man, and pray that the rest of the months I will be able to prepare myself to be a wife that is pleasing in His sight.