Bible Creed

I was watching Fox and Friends this morning as I was pouring a cup of hot coffee. I got caught up in what I was watching and accidentally overfilled my cup. As you could imagine, it didn’t take long before my fingers began to swell.

Unfortunately, the hot coffee poured right over my ring finger. I immediately slipped my wedding ring off before my finger began to swell. I have had to take my wedding ring off various times throughout my marriage. Whenever I do, I feel naked.

As I was standing at the sink this morning, running my hand under icy cold water, I began to think about husbands who do not wear their wedding ring. Some men are not allowed to wear wedding rings at work, others do not wear their wedding ring because it is uncomfortable, others refrain because they do not like jewelry, while others do not because they have simply put on a few too many pounds.

Now those who cannot wear their ring because of work related obligations, no dirt ought to be slung your way so long as you slip it on as soon as you clock out. However, for the rest of you schlumps who do not wear your wedding ring; whatever your reason may be, knock it off. If you have packed on a few pounds since the day you said your vows, get a treadmill, get familiar with Jenny Craig, and lose some weight or buy a bigger ring. If you don’t have money to buy a bigger ring, get a side job delivering pizzas until you can afford one. In the meantime, where a bread tie or something (and I am serious).

If you do not wear your ring because it is uncomfortable and you don’t like jewelry, take one for the team. Put it on your finger. If it makes you bleed, always have on your person of  box tissues and a bottle of aspirin. The ache on your finger will only last as long as your physical life.

If you don’t have fingers, get a tattoo. If you think that tattoos are sinful, don’t add rules to the Bible.

There is no reason why a man should not be advertising himself as ’sold’ if he has entered into a covenantal relationship with one of God’s daughters. Women find comfort in knowing that their men are pleased to advertise themselves as ‘mine.’  You need to do whatever it takes to give that to her.

As soon as the swelling in my hand goes down, the ring will find its way back on my finger. In the meantime I will carry it in my pocket. The indent on my finger, highlighted by the redness of the coffee burn will be sufficient to serve as a backup. As soon as the swelling in my finger subsides enough for me to slip the ring back on, we will be back in business.

If you need a new ring for whatever reason, you might want to think about getting a wedding ring for yourself for your wife for Christmas. I guarantee you, your wife will appreciate a ring on your finger, advertising yourself as ‘her’s’, much more than she would appreciate a new broom, apron, or dish drying rack (typical male-driven gifts).

Wearing your wedding ring will not guarantee that you are ’set’ as a good husband, but it is the little, everyday things that will set the tone for your marriage.

And if you are a faithful ring wearer, remind your wife from time to time why wearing your ring is so important to you. Tell her how proud you are to advertise yourself as ‘her’s’.