By Michele Eich
After seeing me through a very difficult time in my life, God gave me a tangible reminder of His presence by blessing me with a meaningful present that I wear to this day.
It was November of 2009, and I had a day at home to catch up on life. You know those glorious and rare moments when you see nothing but a big blank space on the calendar? I treasure those! With the kids at school and my husband at work, I was ready to tackle my day alone.
That morning, I glanced at the calendar and remembered that it was the 10th anniversary of my divorce. My first marriage had ended a decade earlier. I didn’t really dwell on this event anymore, but there were times when it absolutely consumed me and threatened to suck the wind right out of my sails.
As I went through the day, I contemplated this reality. Ten years?! Wow, God had certainly proved Himself faithful through it all. He healed me from the trauma, regret, and turmoil and put a new song in my heart. Eventually God brought a new man into my life, and we had been married for five years at that time. My kids were healing from the wounds that divorce inflicts on the innocent. We were all in a good place, and I felt incredibly grateful.
The wheels of my mind began turning, and I wondered if anyone bought gifts for individuals to commemorate a divorce. We buy people different kinds of gifts when they celebrate milestones of marriage. Would it be proper etiquette to give myself a gift to acknowledge God’s faithfulness in the years since my marriage ended, not began? What would Emily Post say?
I wanted to go ahead and buy myself a little gift to acknowledge the 10-year anniversary of my divorce. That being said, I was not celebrating the divorce itself. It was ugly, painful, hard, scary, lonely, difficult, not to mention financially, physically, and emotionally draining. I don’t think it is good to make light of something God hates. Now let me be clear. God hates divorce, but He loves divorced people. Big difference!
Marriage represents our forever union with Him, and He doesn’t like to see families torn apart and hurting. Our entire society is suffering because families are broken. Children get caught in the crossfire, and it leaves a mark that is difficult to heal. I understand that people get divorced for a variety of reasons, and some are even biblical. All of that is to explain that I was not celebrating or making light of the end of my first marriage, but I was rejoicing in God’s faithfulness to get me through it.
As I pondered these thoughts, I decided to find out what people give for a 10-year anniversary gift. One of the options was diamonds. Well, I loved that idea, but my checkbook didn’t. I then glanced at one of the piles that needed my attention, and I noticed a “We’ve missed you” card with a $25 off coupon from a store where I purchased work clothes. I thought, I wonder if this store sells jewelry?
Well, they did. As I went through their website, I saw several options. I scrolled down and something spectacular caught my eye. It was a gold and silver butterfly ring with little diamonds on it. Score! I added it to my shopping cart, and once I applied the coupon, it only cost me about 30 bucks. I felt so light and free knowing I had a memento of God’s goodness coming my way.
After a week or so, a very special package arrived. Right before I opened the box, I thought I’ll bet anything that there are 10 butterflies on this ring. Sure enough, I was right. I just knew it, and this was such a special moment. I felt that God had given me this little treasure to put on my finger. Each of those 10 butterflies represented a year of His amazing faithfulness. I didn’t hear an audible voice telling me to go buy the ring. As I went about my day, however, God’s presence navigated me to a very special present that I always wear as a constant reminder of His amazing love.
God brought me through one of the most difficult seasons of my life with His presence and His Word. As I walked through this valley, a friend of mine who had traveled a similar road told me to read Psalm 37 every day. I did, and it helped me more than words can express. One of my favorite parts of this Scripture says, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing” (Psalm 37:25-26). Not only did God see me through this trying time, but He was an ever-present Father to my children, and for that, I am forever thankful.
Butterflies are very special to me because they represent the transformation that comes from knowing Jesus and doing life with Him. As I type these words, I see a glorious reminder of this truth. I have 10 little butterflies dancing on my finger, a wonderful gift from my eternal King.
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