Put a ring on it

Until I met my husband, I never understood men. I didn't understand what they liked, what motivated them or why the relationship, no matter how hard I tried would last no longer than a year. I knew that I was a nice girl, attractive, church going, faithful and family oriented. What guy wouldn't want to marry a woman that was educated, kind and knew how to throw down in the kitchen? Yet, with the hope of every new relationship came the dread that it would end before it began. Sometimes it was because he had a girlfriend that I didn't know about, other times because I didn't believe in sex before marriage, but the real reason was because he wanted somebody else. I thought something was wrong with me. Sadly, I was right. But it took a heartbreaking experience to show me how wrong I was.

I dated a man that was absolutely perfect on paper: Christian, family oriented, and educated with a stable career. Even though he lived in another town, we talked every day and saw each other on the weekends. He was single, never married, no kids and was very frugal with his money. Life was great with him, so it seemed. We were engaged within 8 months. The day we went ring shopping was my first warning. We went to one store and after talking to the sales woman he ordered the ring on credit with a full money-back guarantee. I didn't question it at first. I was just so happy to be "engaged." It would take 6 weeks to make it official. Little did I know that he had no intention of marrying me.

Within six weeks an old girlfriend showed up and he broke up with me. I was heartbroken.
"As hurtful as it was,
God allowed me to learn
a deep lesson about men."

They will sacrifice their lives for what they want. He wasn't willing to sacrifice for me, but he was willing to lay it all on the line for the desire of his heart. By the way, he ended up marring her. By not paying attention to his kind of giving, I committed myself to a man that was less than God's best for me.

It took almost five years of time with the Lord, allowing him to heal me from the inside out for my outlook on dating to change. So imagine my déjà vu the afternoon another young man guided me into a jewelry shop. I was petrified. I mean, what was he thinking? This man talked to the sales woman just as the other one had. He even asked me to try on a few for kicks. Yet, this moment was different. This man brokered the deal before my eyes sacrificing his very best to make me his wife. Although our love is bigger than the piece of jewelry I wear on my left finger, I find myself staring at it often. It's a constant reminder of how God exchanged my sorrow for joy. I know you want him to "put a ring on it", it just happened to me so trust me it does happen, there are good men out there. Don't use those butterfly's, or deep loving feelings to help you decide which one to choose. The man that is "the One" will put your Godly desires ahead of his own. He will sacrifice his best to marry you. Now let that man "put a ring on it!"

Kanika, is a writer and marketing professional with FindingMorris.com
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