No More, No Less

When I was in my twenties and pretty new to marriage, I lost a diamond out of my wedding ring. I remember being so sad because it would never be the actual diamond that was put on my finger the day I was married. I am traditional and sentimental that way.

We took the ring to a jeweler a friend recommended who worked in a building in downtown LA. It was a store run by a father and son and I liked the father instantly. He was so old fashioned looking with his white hair, small spectacles on the tip of his nose, crisp white shirt and black pants. His black shoes shined as if they had been polished that morning and a shiny black belt held up the pants on his thin, tall frame. His eyes were bright,kind and wise.

He helped us pick out a stone and took care of the re-setting. We discovered through conversation that he lived near us so he suggested that when it was ready, I could just go by his home to pick it up so as to avoid driving into the city.

As I walked up to his single story home with the perfectly manicured yard, I was excited to put my wedding ring back on my finger. He welcomed me with a smile, we chatted for a moment and he handed me the box. Before I left, he did one more thing. He graciously took my hand, looked into my eyes and said, "May you be the woman God created you to be, no more and no less." I smiled and thanked him and was instantly changed by those words.

Before that point, there was always this feeling inside of me that I needed to be more like this person or that person. In my car, I exclaimed to the Lord in my car- You mean I don't have to be athletic. I don't need to be artistic or even funny. I don't even have to be really great at even one thing! I don't have to be anything more than You created me to be. And I desire to be nothing less than You created me to be.

Now that I am in my late thirties, I don't even remember all of the things I must have been striving to be. There is a certain glorious feeling of being comfortable in your own skin that comes with a little ageing that I wouldn't trade for all the benefits of youth.

This sweet man's words were life giving to me and they have never left me. They have also done more for me than that lost diamond ever could have.

So this is my hope for you Mamasistas-

May you be the woman God created you to be, no more...

and no less!