Family Memories: Don’t Let the Tradition Be Broken!
This October, my wife and I will celebrate our 25th anniversary! I couldn’t be more thankful to God for such a virtuous woman (Proverbs 31:10) whom He allowed me to share my life with over the years (Proverbs 19:14). Let me tell you how it all started…
It was Valentine’s Day 2001 (love was in the air). Kimberley (who would later become my wife) was in Lima, Peru, doing mission work (at least, that is what she says). The congregation she was helping, and that I was also assisting at the time as an associate preacher, was holding a wedding celebration. Kimberley and I were good friends then, but we “secretly” knew we liked each other.
After the ceremony, as the cake was about to be cut, everyone gathered to witness the Peruvian ring tradition. (For those unfamiliar with this tradition, it involves hiding a ring in a layer of the wedding cake. A number of ribbons, corresponding to the number of single young ladies attending, stick out of the wedding cake, and only one is attached to the ring hidden inside. All the girls are then called to choose their ribbon. When a signal is given, they pull their ribbons, and whoever gets the ring is supposed to be the next to get married.)
All the girls at the wedding hurried to choose their ribbons, except the unsuspecting American girl (Kimberley), who stayed in her seat and was finally called and left with the last ribbon. At the count of three, the girls pulled their ribbons, while Kimberley still held on to hers. When no ring appeared, people urged Kimberley to pull her ribbon; when she did, everyone shouted, “You got the ring! You got the ring!” In the confusion, Kimberley spotted the ring, thought it was nice to get one, and smiled for the picture. Of course, she didn’t know what was going on, but I did, and I couldn’t let her break this most cherished Peruvian tradition just because she was uninformed. So, I had to marry her… that same year!
Some may say it was purely fortuitous. Others may say it was “our destiny.” I prefer to think it was God winking at us, saying, “Guys, it is okay. Go ahead and give each other a chance.” Anyway, the point of this article is this: Some traditions matter and should not be broken! I am not talking about the Peruvian ring tradition, but about the holy marriage tradition that must be upheld and honored throughout both spouses’ lives (Matthew 19:4-6). Honor your marriage so your children will learn to do the same when it’s time for them to tie the knot.
Published in Christian Family 11.3 (2026): 3.
