My youngest daughter had a birthday last week. Her twenty-eighth birthday. It’s hard to believe how the years have flown past. 

Twenty-eight years ago, when I was going through a very difficult pregnancy with her, my mom gave me a gift. I was at such a low point. We had four children with one on the way and struggled some financially, so special gifts or treats were few and far between. 

My mother sent me a gift of money and asked me to use it to buy something just for me—an unheard of thought when you have several children. I prayed about it and decided I would purchase a ring that I had wanted for some time. Not just any ring, but a sterling silver ring with a Christian message.

When I went to my favorite Christian bookstore, they had the ring I wanted and the amount turned out to be exactly the same as my mom gifted me. During the rest of that pregnancy and the healthy birth of my daughter—a miracle—I wore my Jesus ring. And I have been wearing it for twenty-eight years.

Some days I barely notice I have it on, but often I am drawn to glance at the word Jesus on my finger. I’ve rarely had anyone else notice the ring. It is a message for me.

I am reminded that Jesus is with me. He is there when I do an act of kindness for someone. He is there when I lose my temper and mutter unkind thoughts. He is there when I ignore someone in need that I should help. He is there when I reach out to someone to encourage them. 

He is there with me every minute of every day. Even when I take the ring off, which is rare, I know Jesus never leaves me. He never stops loving me. No matter how horrible I might be, He is still there with me. Knowing me. Giving me grace. Loving me.

My ring is now bent out of shape. The last s in Jesus is hard to make out because the metal is so worn. It slips around on my finger, so sometimes all I see is the band, but I still know the name of Jesus is there. Just as I still know my Savior, Jesus, is there with me.

Be encouraged. He is with you every moment of every day. Through hard times and through good times. He loves you when you’re awful and He loves you when you’re good. 

My mom gave me a lasting gift twenty-eight years ago. God gave me the amazing gift of my daughter then too. But He also gave me the eternal gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. I pray you have that same gift.

Treasure Him. Hold fast to His presence. 

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!