Journalist Shannon Bream: One of the Things I'm Most Thankful for Today

Shannon Bream-Opinion : Dec 6, 2016
Facebook.com

I ... prayed and cried to God more times than I can remember. "Please help me to find that ring. Please show me where it is if it's still in this house somewhere. Please don't let it be gone forever." I just couldn't bear the thought.

[Facebook.com] Months ago, while traveling from city to city, I lost something very valuable. I called hotels and restaurants, scoured every inch of my luggage and retraced my steps dozens of times. It took three weeks of searching before I sobbed my way through confessing to my husband that the simple, relatively-inexpensive gold wedding band we'd used to seal our vows nearly 21 years ago was gone. He didn't get angry. He could see how utterly heartbroken I was over the loss. (Photo via Facebook)

I have other sparkly things in my jewelry box, far more valuable by worldly standards, but they paled in comparison to the sentimental value tied to my wedding ring.

Every time I thought about that precious band I felt like I was getting kicked in the stomach, often tearing up yet again. I wondered if someone else was wearing it, and hoped it would bring them happiness if so. When we decided to donate our worn luggage and replace it this fall, I nearly ripped out the linings in a desperate last-ditch effort.

The daily ache slowly began to fade just a bit, and I tried to make peace with my carelessness. How could I have lost something so precious? I berated myself over and over again.

I also prayed and cried to God more times than I can remember. "Please help me to find that ring. Please show me where it is if it's still in this house somewhere. Please don't let it be gone forever." I just couldn't bear the thought.

Tuesday morning I was sitting on the upper deck of the beach house we rented to spend Thanksgiving with my parents. The sky was a dazzling blue, without a cloud in sight. I had just come back from a walk on the pristine beach and was feeling especially thankful for the warmth and the break from a grueling year of political coverage.

It was a treat to be wearing shorts instead of the multiple layers I had on just days ago in DC. I took a deep breath, thinking about how you really can smell the salt. The beach has been, and always will be, my happy place.

As I laid back on the comfy lounger and cracked open a book by my favorite author, Fannie Flagg, I reached down for the lip balm falling out of my pocket. In a split second there was a flash of sparkle as my wedding band came tumbling out of that same pocket. I gasped, and turned it over and over in my hands—wanting to make sure I wasn't imaging this miracle! (Photo via Facebook)

I ran three levels down to find my husband, who's had to stay connected to work this week. He had his phone up to his ear, but I couldn't contain my excitement. I jumped around like I had springs in my feet as I held the ring right up to his face. This time my tears were out of pure joy.

I can't stop looking at this simple gold band. It feels like it did the first time I put it on: amazing. Back then it represented the promise of a future life together. Now, it means exponentially more. It's scratched and dinged, having weathered so many unexpected highs and lows. I remember looking at it in moments I wasn't sure we'd make it and thinking about the promises we'd made. This Thanksgiving Day, it's truly the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Don't give up on things, or people, you think are lost. It just may be that they come back to you only after you realize how truly valuable they are.