When my future wife and I were in our late teens, our families had just returned from furlough in the US and each of us were working small jobs on our mission center. Our pay back then was fifty cents per hour, so it took a long time to save money. When I asked her to marry me, I wanted to honor her in the most wonderful way possible, so I naturally sought to buy her a ring.

Not long after we had made our promises, an assignment came to me to get a part for our center's electrical generators, for which I had to fly to the coast and retrieve the delicate assembly. The round trip fare was only a hundred dollars.

I quickly garnered all the savings I had stashed away and flew to the capitol. I got the piece our center needed, then I went on a search for an engagement ring to befit the wonderful girl with whom I'd fallen in love.

Finding the jewelry store recommended down town, I sought the ready help of a sales lady who brought out the three styles they had crafted for the funds I had. It was easy to make the choice. I paid for my precious offering for my fiance, and made my way back home. Just a couple of nights later, we made a date and drove our mission's pickup into the small town nearby for dinner. After dinner, we parked at the now silent local airport and with the ring in the little velvet lined box, I asked her to marry me! Putting the small white-gold ring on her finger, I felt the joy of giving my heart to another person, my future wife. There is no better praise on this earth than to see the joy in a woman's eyes when a man commits wealth, home, and heart to her!

God feels the same way about our offerings to Him! Imagine the joy the Lord has each time I thank Him for my home, or write a check for other missionaries, or offer our hands for volunteer work!

Lord, cause us to see the value of giving praise to You!