The Story of the Gold Ring (part 1)

Long ago, in the country of England, there lived a Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter of 142 Westfield Road in a little town called Devonshire.  They had two young daughters, Lisa and Emily, and a small puppy they named Fluffy.  Lisa’s sixteenth birthday was quickly approaching, and as was the custom in their town, Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter were planning a special surprise for Lisa on the day she came of age.

The morning of her sixteenth birthday dawned bright, and the sun peeked hopefully over the horizon, far across the lake.  As she prepared for the milestone birthday, Lisa Carpenter hummed quietly to herself, thoroughly enjoying the sunshine as it poured into her bedroom window.    Lisa could hear her mother downstairs, cooking her favorite breakfast meal.

Later that morning, after the food was nearly gone and Mrs. Carpenter had cleared the dishes from the table, Lisa’s father reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small gift for his oldest daughter.  The tiny box revealed a beautiful, gold ring, studded with several large, pure diamonds.  Because he was a jewelry-maker, Lisa knew that her father must have fashioned this ring himself, and she also realized that with the size of the diamonds and the amount of pure gold that was in this ring, he must have paid an extremely high price for its materials.  Then Lisa noticed the inside of the beautiful piece of jewelry.  Mr. Carpenter had engraved, in beautiful, flowing letters, the name of someone Lisa didn’t know.  Slightly frustrated, Lisa wondered:  “Father, why is there a name engraved on this ring?  Does it not belong to me?”

                Lisa’s father looked at her, his eyes smiling.  “Daughter,” he began, “the ring you now hold is yours to keep for a time.  You must keep this ring safe until the proper time, when you are to give it away to someone that I have deemed worthy to receive this from you.”

                “But Father,” Lisa protested, “How will I know when I am supposed to give this ring away?  And how I shall I know whom to give it to?”

                Mr. Carpenter gave his daughter a reassuring hug.  “When the time is right, you will know who to give your ring to, for I have given its match, one engraved with your name, to the man who is to receive this ring from you.  Both of you will know when you must exchange your gifts.  Until then, keep your ring safe, and do whatever you can to protect it.  This ring is the most treasured and valued possession you have been given.  Many will want to steal it, but you must seek to protect it.”