Maddie Privott is from Bethany, Okla., but now lives in Nashville, Tenn., attending Trevecca Nazarene University. You can catch more of Maddie's adventures and musings about life at SUSIEmag.com inside the global sisterhood by clicking "Maddie."
Promptly following the day boys miraculously stop having cooties, most Christian girls are given a ring to symbolize their purity. Beyonce doesn’t get many things right lyrically, but she got it right when she said, “If you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it.” Something tells me she wasn’t referring to purity rings, but we’ll give her the benefit of the doubt.
Purity rings aren’t just to look pretty. They can be used to avoid the bozos who want to come and take a piece of our hearts. They remind us of our goal to stay pure.
To Christian girls, receiving a purity ring is like receiving a “woman card.” Somehow, with the hustle and bustle of life, I never actually received a purity ring. Sometimes I look down at my naked hand and just shake my head because I feel as though I’m not still a girl but not quite yet a woman, either. Not to worry, my purity ring is coming soon.
I’ve been observing the various rings on the fingers of my sisters in Christ and have learned that they’re in no way uniform. Purity rings come in all different shapes and sizes. I never realized how hard of a choice it would be to pick the right style for me. The ring says a thousand words. Ever wander what your purity ring says about you?
The Rock: Some see the purity ring as an opportunity to get some bling. Take my sister for example. Her ring is a white gold band accompanied by a rather large pink rock. That thing practically screams “I’m PURE!”
My sister and I are nothing alike, so naturally such a ring is not for me. I want to take a more a subtle approach. “The Rock” says I’m present, I’m pure, get used to it! The plus side of this ring is that it makes for a great conversational piece.
The Message Ring: If your ring has “True Love Waits” engraved on it, you have a “message ring.” This ring summarizes its purpose. If you have this ring and feel pressure from someone to surpass your boundaries, just stick out your ring and say, “Read it and weep!” I’ve never tried this method, but I think it would work. If you ever try this please let me know how it goes. Seems like it could be a hilarious scene. And I always love a good laugh.
The Barely There: This ring is a simple silver band. It says, “Yes I’m pure, but I don’t want it to be a headline like the Jonas Brothers and their purity rings.” People who have this ring probably don’t wear W.W.J.D. bracelets and buy all their T-shirts from Christian bookstores. “Abreadcrumb & Fish” anyone?
The Chameleon: This ring is also a simple silver band, but it has a cross etched in it. I call it “The Chameleon” because it can act as a purity ring, and it can also serve as a general symbol of your faith. It says, “I’m choosing purity because I’m a beautiful creation of God.”
And for Me?
I think I’ve found the ring for me! And the winner is—drum roll please—“The Chameleon!” I can’t wait to be welcomed into the club of the purity ring bearers!
On a more serious note, I know I made the purity ring sound like a pretty powerful accessory, but you and I both know it isn’t the ring that will help us stay pure.
Sure, the ring is a symbol of purity, but we need much more than a symbol to keep our minds and bodies pure. We need God, because He has so much more power than all the diamond rings in the world. And instead of putting a hole in your heart—like some guys may do—He wants to fill your heart and make you whole.
I love this scripture: “For you created my innermost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know full well” (Psalm 139:13-15).
My hope for the SUSIE Sisterhood is that you read those words and let them sink deep into your hearts. I want you to know how valuable you are. When you truly value yourself, because God made you, then there’s no way you’re going to give your heart and body away to a bozo.
And someday a man will come along who sees you, not as an object, but as a beautiful woman who was fearfully and wonderfully made. The wait is worth it!
Editor’s note: The best variety of purity rings at affordable prices that I’ve found are available at factory79.com. —Susie