In December of 1980, we came home for Christmas after our first semester at Baylor. My Dad asked me, "Do you think you will marry her?" I responded, "Yes!" He replied, "You should buy your rings now because Gold prices have plummeted."
It was not a romantic suggestion, but it was practical. Gold had lost nearly 50% of its value. It was not cheap, but with only my summer labor jobs to afford the ring, it made it more possible. He loaded Cindy and me into his car and drove us to downtown Dallas. We rode up in an elevator to a jeweler and bought our rings. Actually, we made a payment on the rings. It would take me two years to pay for them. They sat in their vault until Decemeber of 1982. Then I retrieved them and hatched my plan.
We were engaged. Our wedding was set for May, but Cindy did not have her engagement ring. So, I planned to take her to dinner and ask her officially to marry me. She did not know I had finished paying for them, so it would be a little surprise.
We went to a nice restaurant in Waco. It was the middle of finals week. It was the Christmas season. Neither of us had much time, but we set aside enough for dinner. At the end of the meal I brought out a Father Christmas ornament. He was hiding the ring in his coat. Engagements didn't come with secret photographers or elaborate plans. I thought my hidden ring was pretty creative. She said, 'Yes.' The people at the table next to us smiled warmly. Then I gave her the heart ornament. It is fragile blown glass. It's like love, it has to be protected. I went back to studying. I had not calculated that Cindy would spend the evening showing off the ring and therefore not do as well on her final the next day. It is still a bit of a sore subject. Lots of 'Yes's' come with a cost.
We decorate our Christmas tree, taking special care with the bits of memory we hang on the branches. Then we examine it and find the most prominent place, often having to relocate an ornament, and then we place the heart. Almost every day, I take a moment to look at it. We have had it for 41 years. Our tree is not a decorator tree. Things don't match. It's a treasury. We have collected symbols over the years. Decorating is a journey of memory and thankfulness. I'm glad she said, 'Yes.' It has led to a rich and joyful life.
Christmas is the season of, 'Yes!" Mary said it. Joseph said it. Jesus said it. The angels said it. The magi said it. They each answered God with a resounding, 'Yes!' If you haven't said, 'Yes' to God, this is the season to do it. It will lead you to a life of rich joy and love.
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