A few years ago, my sister Tatum lived in Ghana as a missionary. So in what is considered the most surprising decision my father has ever made, we went to visit her for two weeks.
My only request was that I wanted a souvenir that spoke to me about Ghana and about God. And though it was my first choice, Ghana doesn’t do airbrushed t-shirts or license plates. [I know, I was disappointed too.]
So I bought a ring in Ghana. Adinrka symbols are found throughout the Ghanaian culture, so I researched the symbols and found the exact one. The one that would always point me to God and remind me of Ghana. In a small jewelry store that looked and smelled of 1945, I found that symbol on a silver ring.
It is the symbol of hope. Literally translated, it means, “God, there is something in the heavens, let it reach me.” Another translation says it is meant to remind us that God is always in a place where He can hear us when we pray.
The exact symbol is symmetrical. But my ring, the one that travels around on my left ring finger for now, is a little lopsided. I like that. I think there is some real truth to the idea that God is still sturdy, even when my faith, and hope, are lopsided.
I don’t know if you are single or not, but I bet you can remember the thoughts, the heartache, the worry, the concern, the loss of, well…. hope. As a single girl myself, it’s easy to lose sight of hope under the pile of bridesmaid dresses and unfulfilled dreams.
[And I know hope is about more than getting married. But just go with me on this one—it takes a serious amount of hope to be single and 29 and not absolutely reek of bitterness.]
But on that hot December day, on the other side of the world, standing in a dirty little jewelry store, my hope took shape, a round silver shape. Years later, God still uses that little ring often to remind me that He has good things for me. That He hears me when I pray.
That single or married, ring-less or ring-full [that’s probably not a word], young or old, the truth remains—
Not only does God give me hope and remind me of hope,
He is my hope.
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Terrific post! I can relate so much. I also have a similar ring story (but from another country) that gives me hope when I feel a bit hopeless. :O
Annie,
Great post. I wear this necklace that says hope on it. It reminds me that even though I can’t see what God has promised for the future, I can still have hope in Him.
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Annie this is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for warming my heart this morning. Grateful for the constant reminder of hope on your finger. You know what though? Even as a married woman surrounded by teenagers about to fly the coup, when it all comes down to it, He is our only hope. He is the only constant that will always remain. I am so grateful that you have already grabbed hold of the only truth that matters while you pray and await for what He has for you next. Staying surrendered and authentic is the key girl! Well done. And thank you from this ole’ girl for the reminder.
Thanks for sharing. As a 32 year old single who has made many mistakes along the way, I am encouraged by your story of hope. I am not on the bitter end of the scale but on the other extreme of having no hope or expectation which is just as bad! Thanks for the reminder to look to God, our ever present hope.
“God, there is something in the heavens, let it reach me.”
Oh, what a prayer…
What a wonderful post. I have things that give me hope like this also. Thank you for sharing!
Such a wonderful attitude and spirit you have!
What’s the old hymn say “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. …”
Continue to stand on THAT hope and no matter WHAT the path, the peace will come and the HOPE will remain the same….HIM!
Enjoyed perusing your blog as well. Wak in the Hope always :0)!
Annie, I love ya to pieces…ringfull is so a word now…if you can spell it, it’s a word. =P
I love this, Annie. Thanks so much for sharing this!
“God, there is something in the heavens, let it reach me.”
I love this. I would even tweak it a bit: “God, there is something in the heavens. It WILL reach me.” Solid hope in a bent world.
Memorable and beautiful post.
beeeeeeeautiful!!! 🙂
that ring is perfect; your life story is perfect. don’t let the world taint that.
GUSSY
“it takes a serious amount of hope to be single and 29 and not absolutely reek of bitterness”
Amen to that, Sister. 🙂
What an absolutely beautiful post, Annie Belle 🙂 I can’t think of a more encouraging saying that what that ring represents.
This was beautiful, Annie. I know this is a message that needs to be heard by so many women, both single and married. The lie of hopelessness is a particularly penetrating deception, and I LOVE how your ring is a tangible tool in the mental attack against that lie.
“God, there is something in the heavens, let it reach me.” I will be thinking about this all day. Thank you!
Beautiful post, Annie. When I was in Ireland 9 years ago, I bought a ring and wore it on my left hand, a symbol that if there was a husband out there for me, God already had him picked out and until then, I would wear the ring to remind me of God’s provision and love. It just so happens, he did have someone for me and now, five years later, I wear his ring on my left hand, and my Ireland ring on my right.
Jen
A lovely post, Annie 🙂 Thank you!
Love & hugs, Q
I love this. I love you.
and also
You’re hilarious.
Annie, your ring is beautiful! Thank you for sharing the store behind it.
And while hope is about more than getting married, I also think that hope is different for each of us. And it’s different at different times. For me, today, hope is about getting out of debt and finding a new job and learning to love the Word more and so much more!
What a sweet post and I love the ring you were. I have stuff like that that reminds me of God’s faithfulness. He ROCKS!
Oh, and I have to share, I had been in 14 weddings (bridesmaid) before my own at age 34. I had my first daughter at 35, my second at 37 and we are expecting our third daughter in December. I will be 45. God is faithful and He never puts anything on your heart that He doesn’t intend to fulfull … hope! 🙂
Thank you, thank you Annie for writing about this. I am *only* 24 but desperately (?) want to be married too. I am going to pray that the Lord would send me a message, a reminder of His Hope. The Hope I really need at times right now.
thank you for posting your story. i am also 29 and still single. i’m not sad nor hopeless about my un-married situation. i am actually ready to be single for the rest of my life. i just accept the way it is. if the Lord sends me somebody, that will be fine with me but it will be as equally fine if He wants me to stay like this forever.
many people actually do not believe this. many believe that i’m just saying this because i haven’t found the right person for me. yes, i may not have found the right person for me, but there might not be a right person for me either. i am not sure of the future. all i am sure about is that i am happy with my single life. i have my friends and family who give me all the love that i need. i am alone, but i am not lonely.
In Human, All Too Human, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche argued that “Zeus did not want man to throw his life away, no matter how much the other evils might torment him, but rather to go on letting himself be tormented anew. To that end, he gives man hope. In truth, it is the most evil of evils because it prolongs man’s torment.” Emily Dickinson wrote in a poem that “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers– / That perches in the soul–.” Ernst Bloch in “Principle of Hope” (1986) traces the human search for a wide range of utopias. Bloch locates utopian projects not only in the social and political realms of the well-known utopian theorists (Marx, Hegel, Lenin) but also in a multiplicity of technical, architectural, geographical utopias, and in multiple works of art (opera, literature, music, dance, film). For Bloch hope permeates everyday life and it is present in countless aspects of popular culture phenomenon such as jokes, fairy tales, fashion or images of death. In his view Hope remains in the present as an open setting of latency and tendencies.
Annie, your ring is beautiful! Thank you for sharing the store behind it.
And while hope is about more than getting married, I also think that hope is different for each of us. And it’s different at different times. For me, today, hope is about getting out of debt and finding a new job and learning to love the Word more and so much more!
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Hi Annie,
Great story of Hope & I love this! God is so good & I do HOPE that all of our desires are filled as he said & that would be in alignment with his Perfect Will over our lives! God bless you & I am so interested in teh sight! I too am from the SOuth & miss it so much! I am now in San Fran, Ca where there is not much Hope on these streets… I hope to open a Christian Soul Food, Book & Gift Store & Family Counseling & Family Entertainment Center! Please Pray for us here & One day I will open the Center for Hope, Ca & it will be where teh people here learn to buy the pond not just eat the fish!
OMFG do you remember that girl we use to go to school with named Jolene Vicente who had no friggin fingernails? OMG OMG I saw her at her work place the other day OMFG she got so ugly lol. She use to run her mouth so much but she is nasty looking lol. I use to go to school with her in Port St Lucie and all. Umm Florida is really hot this year btw wtf people dying all over the place because of the heat. Makes me want to move up north or something.