Promise Rings - Love Waits Rings
Promise Rings Love Waits
Rings. Whether given to a friend or someone you care deeply about, a promise ring is meant to remind each
person of the commitment they have made to each other. Usually promise rings are inexpensive and are intended to
convey a promise of friendship, religious commitment, love, or to express an exclusive commitment in a
relationship.
The custom of choosing promise rings is not a new one. Promise rings were given
for friendship and other reasons at least as early as biblical times. No doubt, the exchange of similar items to
symbolize a personal commitment dates far back into antiquity. If you decide to make a promise ring commitment with someone, you’ll be following an ancient tradition.
Here are some of the common intended meanings of promise rings:
- A promise to be faithful
- We’re committed to the same purpose, or goal
- We’ll always be friends
- We intend to get married, but not engaged just yet
- I’ll refrain from a certain activity (smoking, gambling, drugs, sex, etc.)
- A reminder of our commitment while we’re apart
- I’ll keep your secret
Usually, both parties will pick out the promise rings. Typically, but not always, the rings will be matching and
often be engraved with something relevant to both people. Most people buying promise rings will opt for simple
bands since this makes it easier to get identical matching sets. Still, it isn’t uncommon to select unique ring
designs that closely, but do not perfectly match. The importance lies in the intended meaning.
Before you make a promise ring commitment it is wise to be absolutely clear what are the intentions are for each
person. A young woman may take the receipt of a promise ring as a commitment to eventually get married, while the
young man may only intend it to indicate that the relationship is exclusive for the time being. Likewise, if there
is an intention to share a common goal, both of you should be absolutely clean about what is really expected of
each of you. Talking through what is expected of each other will prevent your promise ring from becoming a hurtful
symbol of a failed relationship.
Purity rings are another type of promise ring. Among couples a
purity ring symbolizes chastity and sometimes the ring is called a love waits . The couple intends the relationship
to be romantic, but chaste. Among fiends it can simply indicate a willingness to be obligated to a common goal.
When given by parents to a child the commitment is to avoid drug use, alcohol, sex, or other meaningful pledge.
It is common that the promise ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand. Some of the most popular
patterns these days are the Celtic designs. Also popular are puzzle rings and plain sterling silver rings.
Although promise rings are given for a wide variety of reasons including love, they most importantly are
reminders of the commitment we share with someone we care about. Sometimes these promises are commitments that can
last a lifetime. Spend some time researching what is available in the different types and styles because you both
may wear the rings for a very long time.
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