Dianne Bright's Blog - Posts Tagged "relationships"
My Tarnished Ring
Parenting Tip: Don’t give up on your marriage, even when it’s tough.
I love my silver anniversary ring with a cross carved out of the middle of it. It is particularly special to me because of the inscription on the inside, which states my name, my husband's name, and ten years, celebrating our marriage commitment. After a past summer's idyllic retreat to Newport, I noticed my ring had taken some beatings.
Multiple jaunts to the Jacuzzi had taken their toll and my beloved ring had tarnished. Once we returned home from our vacation, I decided to store it away in a special jewelry box.
Months went by, and though I’d intended to call the company to get a replacement or a special cloth to soften the imperfections, I did not. I just wore other rings instead. But eventually I started to miss this one on my left middle finger.
So I picked up my tattered ring and decided to wear it, defects and all. It looked a little bit silly next to my platinum wedding band and my diamond. But I decided to wear it anyway.
The most amazing thing happened. From life's daily routine as a mom and wife, my ring perked up. Life's daily tasks took care of the blemishes on my tattered ring. It seems that the routine of doing dishes, washing laundry, sweeping, gardening, etc., had polished the ring right back to its previously shiny state. I was surprised to see that the black tarnished material had completely disappeared.
Marriage is like my ring. Sometimes without even knowing it, we put our marriage in danger. We distance ourselves to avoid stupid arguments or we go too many months without connecting, and before we know it, our hearts become tarnished.
We're surprised by the change, and we feel the heaviness of the black stain hanging over us. But there is hope. Marriages, just like my ring, are made of good stuff. They too can make a comeback—but you can’t give up. You have to stick with it even when it feels like a replacement would be the easiest solution.
I'm so glad I kept my old ring, in lieu of exchanging it for a newer and shinier one. It would have been easy to do, because the company backs their products with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed policy. But it was refreshing to see that as I have stuck with my ring, I have also pressed on in my marriage over the past eighteen years.
Sometimes, we have felt like giving up as our wills have collided and our rough edges have battled. Our differences have evidenced themselves over parenting styles, budgeting issues, and career goals. But over time, our struggles have actually strengthened us. Where I’m weak, he’s strong and vice versa. Plus, he's an amazing kisser, and he gives really good foot rubs.
*This excerpt is from MOMMY'S HIDING IN THE TREEHOUSE. Author Dianne Bright wrote for 2 years for Scholastic's Parent & Child magazine and blog before delving into fiction. Her first novel, SOUL READER, came out in April, 2015.
Mommy's Hiding in the Treehouse--- With a Glass of Merlot
I love my silver anniversary ring with a cross carved out of the middle of it. It is particularly special to me because of the inscription on the inside, which states my name, my husband's name, and ten years, celebrating our marriage commitment. After a past summer's idyllic retreat to Newport, I noticed my ring had taken some beatings.
Multiple jaunts to the Jacuzzi had taken their toll and my beloved ring had tarnished. Once we returned home from our vacation, I decided to store it away in a special jewelry box.
Months went by, and though I’d intended to call the company to get a replacement or a special cloth to soften the imperfections, I did not. I just wore other rings instead. But eventually I started to miss this one on my left middle finger.
So I picked up my tattered ring and decided to wear it, defects and all. It looked a little bit silly next to my platinum wedding band and my diamond. But I decided to wear it anyway.
The most amazing thing happened. From life's daily routine as a mom and wife, my ring perked up. Life's daily tasks took care of the blemishes on my tattered ring. It seems that the routine of doing dishes, washing laundry, sweeping, gardening, etc., had polished the ring right back to its previously shiny state. I was surprised to see that the black tarnished material had completely disappeared.
Marriage is like my ring. Sometimes without even knowing it, we put our marriage in danger. We distance ourselves to avoid stupid arguments or we go too many months without connecting, and before we know it, our hearts become tarnished.
We're surprised by the change, and we feel the heaviness of the black stain hanging over us. But there is hope. Marriages, just like my ring, are made of good stuff. They too can make a comeback—but you can’t give up. You have to stick with it even when it feels like a replacement would be the easiest solution.
I'm so glad I kept my old ring, in lieu of exchanging it for a newer and shinier one. It would have been easy to do, because the company backs their products with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed policy. But it was refreshing to see that as I have stuck with my ring, I have also pressed on in my marriage over the past eighteen years.
Sometimes, we have felt like giving up as our wills have collided and our rough edges have battled. Our differences have evidenced themselves over parenting styles, budgeting issues, and career goals. But over time, our struggles have actually strengthened us. Where I’m weak, he’s strong and vice versa. Plus, he's an amazing kisser, and he gives really good foot rubs.
*This excerpt is from MOMMY'S HIDING IN THE TREEHOUSE. Author Dianne Bright wrote for 2 years for Scholastic's Parent & Child magazine and blog before delving into fiction. Her first novel, SOUL READER, came out in April, 2015.
Mommy's Hiding in the Treehouse--- With a Glass of Merlot
