Purify Your Mind Series (Part 2) by Joe KirbySample

A Tremendous Responsibility

The way I proposed to my wife was a little weird. I bought a hard-shelled clam from a local fish market, and after scooping the guts out, I taped the engagement ring to the inside and sealed the clam with string. The day I proposed was my wife’s birthday. It was a scorching hot day and the plan was I would take Emma “river snorkeling” and drop the clam on the riverbed for her to discover herself.

Except things didn’t go according to plan.

My then-girlfriend was angry because I hadn’t bought her a birthday present or even a card. So instead of holding my hand while we swam together in a delightful watery plunge pool, she sat on a rock, sulking. Eventually, I gave up trying to convince her to join me and got out of the water exclaiming, “Look what I’ve found, Emma!” But it was too late; she wasn’t speaking to me and wouldn’t even turn around!

After five minutes of pleading and desperation, I blurted out, “Emma Davies, for once in your life, do as I say!” There I was on one knee with the open clam in my hand. One half had the ring taped to it and the other half read, “Emma Davies, will you marry me?”

The reason I used a clam is because Emma’s golden ring needed to be securely guarded. Everything in this life that is precious is protected. Diamonds are covered by layers of rock, the Crown Jewels in London are patrolled by armed guards, and even your smartphone has a protective case. So why do we not take more diligence to guard something even more valuable—our hearts? That’s really been the message of this devotional: your heart belongs to Jesus, and if He was willing to die for us, the least we can do is to try to keep ourselves pure until He returns.