Today marks the 13th anniversary of the day that changed America forever.

The mainland of the USA was no longer innocent nor protected from the effects of international war. War had come to our shores and left an indelible mark on our minds.

I found it an interesting metaphor to read on the National Geographic website about a man named Hazem Gamal. This is what they wrote about him:

HAZEM GAMAL
South tower, 37^th floor (saw towers on fire when he emerged from subway station)

Fresh from his honeymoon, Hazem Gamal heard his wedding ring drop as he fled into a toll booth by the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to escape the dust cloud from the crumbling south tower. When he felt it was safe, he opened the booth’s door, slid his foot around in ankle-high dust, and found the ring.

“That cloud was very thick—it went instantly from a bright, beautiful day to completely black, to you-could-not-see-your-hand-in-front-of-you black. It became extremely quiet. That’s why I could hear my ring fall off and hit the street. I didn’t realize I’d lost it until I heard that sound.

“The ring has become more significant, although it’s already a significant symbol of lifelong partnership. I lost it in the midst of all of that, and recovered it in the midst of all of that, so it symbolizes not only our partnership but also how I was able to quickly recover and continue with my life despite that event.”

What a powerful story that depicts how far we must go in holding onto our commitment to love each other no matter what storms come our way. Hazem faced the worst of tragedies without the presence of his new wife. Yet in the midst of blinding debris, when his ring slipped off his finger, he knew he had to do whatever he could to find it. His wedding ring symbolized his commitment to love her and nothing was going to keep him from finding it.

Thankfully, miraculously, he found it. Maybe it was his tenacity that allowed him to find it. Maybe it was the newness of the meaning of this ring that allowed him to notice when it fell off. Whatever the reason, finding that ring stands as a powerful metaphor for all of us who are facing heart stopping, vision blinding circumstances. Situations that may make you want to shut yourself up in a toll booth away from the mess.

Click this photo for another amazing testimony about a lost wedding ring. This Sweet Life blog.

But your marriage vows and the ring you wear, stand as sentinels reminding you in the mess that what you have is worth fighting for.

Cling to your spouse in trouble–even when it hurts to do so. Cling to God in prayer for the miracle to find your way when it seems there is no way. And trust Him to do what only He can do. This will be part of your story that God will use to remind others who are facing similar trouble to hang in there. Tragedies, no matter how painful, will pass. And like this newlywed husband you will be able to write an article pointing others to the reason marriage is worth fighting for.

Let freedom ring–in America, and in our marriages.

It matters more than we know.

What difficulties have you weathered together and realized after it was over that your marriage was worth it all? How can you use your story to encourage others?