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The Bracelet Promise
The glitter of green stones drew me to the solitary display case. The light bounced off the silver and glass. Amidst the jumble of holiday shoppers, I made my way to the corner area reserved for fine jewelry and gazed upon the bracelet, noticing the unique handiwork. The beaten silver, fashioned in such a way as to resemble diamond chips, was delightful. Seeing dozens of dark green emeralds, I knew this was a one-of-a-kind treasure.
As I stared in wonder at the intricate piece, I remembered a promise my husband had made. David had bought me a lovely gift four years before on our honeymoon. He had selected an emerald green Austrian crystal and seed pearl bracelet in honor of my May birthstone. As he fastened it on my wrist, he lovingly said, "I promise you that soon I will buy you real emeralds. Just wait." Though I loved the honeymoon gift, deep down I looked forward to David's promise.
Until that time however, I still delighted in wearing the delicate creation. I wore it frequently, each time remembering the island boutique. Whenever David saw the bracelet, he remembered his promise, and would reassure me that the time was coming soon when he would keep it.
It became our habit over the years to look in every jewelry store window as if searching for the Holy Grail. We wandered in and out of countless shops, becoming discouraged when we realized the cost of the promise was well beyond our means. I soon wavered in my belief that I would ever own what David desired to give me. However David never lost faith.
Now we were in the mall to during the last week before Christmas to buy gifts for our children. Finances were tight; we had agreed there would be no exchange of gifts between us. We had just completed one of the most stressful years possible. With David's diagnosis of Huntington's Disease, our lives had forever changed. This terminal, neurological disorder had pitched us into a panic, not to mention near bankruptcy.
I looked up from the case into David's eyes and saw love shining even brighter than the stones. I could tell in his mind that nothing short of this bracelet would satisfy his honeymoon promise, but I knew there was no way we could possibly afford it. I tried to tell him but the words died on my lips. He he'd had so many disappointments this year, I didn't have the heart to tell him the answer was no.
Thinking fast, I came up with a reason to decline what I knew was an offer I could not accept. I have large wrists and normally bracelets don't fit. As the store clerk reverently lifted the object out of the case, I knew it would be too small.
The silver and green made a colorful contrast against my brown skin. I silently acknowledged how much I wanted this bracelet while hoping it would not fit. As the clerk reached around my wrist and closed the intricate clasp, my heart both plummeted and leapt. It fit! It was perfect, yet I knew there was no way we could afford it. The unpaid bills, with more looming in the future, had placed a vise around our checkbook.
I glanced at my best friend and saw his shining smile burst forth. This man, who had never hurt anyone, was now the victim of one of the cruelest diseases known to man. His was a sentence with only one verdict. Death. Untimely, slow and cruel death. My eyes brimmed with tears as I realized we would not live out our dream of growing old together. To David, this was not just one more bauble in an already overcrowded jewelry box. Rather, this was his love displayed on my arm for all the world to see. To David, a promise made was a promise kept. I sadly realized that he might not have many more months or years to keep his promise. Suddenly it became the most important covenant ever made. Somehow I had to juggle the bills to let him have the honor of keeping his promise.
"Do you like it?" he whispered. Hearing the hope in his voice, mingled with seeing the love in his eyes, was something I am sure few women ever have the privilege of experiencing. It was clear that David cherished me. All he ever wanted, from the day we met, was to please me.
"Yes, honey, I love it." I answered. "It's exactly what I want."
The clerk reached for my arm to remove the bracelet. I could not believe this little object had worked its way into my heart so quickly. "How much is it?" I finally asked. Slowly the man turned over the little white tag. Two-hundred fifty dollars it read. Surely it was a mistake! I had seen enough to know that price was only a fraction of its worth.
The man began to extol the virtues of the item pointing out the one hundred and eighty emeralds in a hand made Brazilian setting. But even though two hundred fifty dollars was an incredible price, it might as well have been $2,500.00, for all we could stretch our meager budget. Without thinking I asked, "Would you take two hundred twenty-five dollars, tax included?" I surprised myself at that question because shops in malls do not normally bargain. He looked at me in surprise and answered, "That will be fine."
Before he could change his mind I whipped out my credit card, all the while watching as David beamed with pride. The man quickly handled the transaction and we were on our way. Every few steps we would stop and look at the bracelet. Before we reached the car, David said, "When I get sicker and eventually die, you need to look at each emerald. Each one will remind you of something special we've done. A trip we took, a movie we saw, or a moment we shared. This will be your memory bracelet." I began to cry. David's concern was not his own failing health but for how I would handle life without him.
As we worked our way home in the bumper to bumper traffic in rush hour Honolulu, I wondered just how we could pay for the bracelet. Oddly enough I never really panicked, I was just somehow curious how it would all work out. We talked as we travelled and every so often looked at the miracle of the promise kept.
On the way into the house I grabbed the mail and began to open it as we walked inside. Amidst the usual bills were two cards. I opened the first which was from a church where I had sung several times that year. It was a thank you note for my music ministry along with a gift. I was speechless. I was looking at a check for two hundred dollars! I reached for the second card and slit it open. Out fell two bills; a twenty and a five. The card was simply signed, "A friend in Christ."
I looked up at David and we both began to laugh. I remembered how I had felt the need to ask the clerk if he would take two hundred twenty-five dollars, tax included. Even as we were in the mall, the payment for David's promise was in the mailbox. God had already taken care of every detail, including the twenty-five dollars plus tax.
It is just a piece of jewelry. Something I could have lived without. But the memories attached to our time together have helped to make me the woman I am today. The exquisite joy and the unspeakable grief of this relationship have grown me in ways I could never have anticipated. The promise David spoke on our honeymoon had been fulfilled. It was only through God that we stopped at that shop on that day to find that specific bracelet. The pastor of a small church, coupled with an unknown friend, listened to God as they decided their holiday giving.
Before I was ever born, God made another promise. He promised me eternal salvation. He promised He would be with me every step of the way. All I had to do was ask. Just as God never stopped believing I would claim that first promise, David never stopped believing in his bracelet promise. When I wear my emeralds, I pull out memories I have tucked away in my heart. I also remember David's faith and God's promises.
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Member Profile
Cathy Pruitt is a southern girl with deep Christian roots. She began singing as a child, writing her first song at the age of 16. Two single releases from her debut album "get ready for the rain", charted nationally and internationally. Most importantly, Cathy is a malignant thyroid/throat cancer survivor and she praises god for her healing. Cathy believes music is a message with a melody and is thankful for the continued opportunities she is given to share her testimony and to minister in song. Her second passion is writing. She feels it is a way to express the depths of her soul. She loves sharing with others what god has given her. She states, "i am thankful god chose to heal me, and i will spend the rest of my life praising him with my music and my writing. To god be the glory
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Bible Study Classes and Prayer Meeting
Bible Study is held in the AV Chat Room each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Each Saturday we also have a Video prayer and worship session. Classes begin promptly at 8:00 PM EST.
The GFB Prayer Meeting is held each Wednesday at approximately 9:00 PM EST in the AV Chat room.
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Devotion
"Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding." Psalm 23:22,23
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Featured Video
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For all members or friends of members who have your own ministry...
You can now create your own private or public ministry group on GFB!
For more information, please click here.
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Message From Richard
Greetings my brothers and sisters and welcome to our latest edition of Gods Faith Book's weekly newsletter. I'd like to once again welcome all our new members that have been joining us over the past week. It brings me great joy to welcome all of you to our growing community of friends and prayer warriors.
The Bible is the most remarkable collection ever written.
Over a period of two thousand years; in times of war and peace. Written by kings, physicians, tax collectors, farmers, fishermen, singers, and shepherds. Written in three languages - Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Such a diverse group of writers, yet this cohesive unity is inspired and perfected by the Holy Spirit Himself. Jesus Christ is the grand subject, our good is its design, and the glory of God is its end.
The following is addressed to many of our newer members that may not be aware of our weekly Bible Class. GFB holds a different Bible Class three days a week, all starting at 8PM Eastern Standard Time. Our Tuesday Class is led by Pastor Brenda Wood, Wednesday Class is led by Charles Gentry, followed by a prayer session led by our sister Faith and our Thursday class is led by our Sister Faith. Bible Class is well attended and attendance is growing. Everyone is invited to an experience you will all enjoy. Class notes are always posted after class in the forum room for you to review what you have heard or for those that could not make it to class.
Bible class is held in the chat room and is conducted with a live voice, so make sure you turn up your speakers.
All new attendees receive a FREE 402 page King James version of the Bible. If you have already been to class and received your Bible, we will be glad to send you an angel pin to wear on your lapel. Make sure you come early so that you can meet and chat with fellow members.
For those of you who are looking for a further in depth study of the Bible, please check out our green menu bar on the home page of GFB. Click on Bible Study located at the end of menu bar and it will direct to a new study of the Bible every day.
Please keep in mind we are always looking for guest speakers for our Bible Class. If you have experience in teaching or leading a Bible session, please let me know.
Remember, that this site does not belong to one person, it belongs to all of you. Without YOU, there is no US. Support your site by going to your gift store on home page and make a purchase to support all the activities we are all enjoying.
"Breathing life into all who believe...The Word is alive!"
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16-17
GOD'S GRACE IS WHAT ENABLES YOU TO BELIEVE IN HIM. SO THANK HIM EACH DAY FOR REVEALING HIMSELF TO YOU!
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Don't forget to visit the GFB gift store where you will receive a 15% discount!
Just enter code GFB044 during checkout.
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