Life can be hard at times. Look at Naomi. While living in a foreign country,
her husband died. Her sons both took Moabite wives, and all was well for
Naomi for the next 10 years. Then her sons both died as well.
Even in our day it is hard for a lonely woman to survive without her
husband; but in that day, it was nearly impossible to survive. With Naomi
and both of her daughters-in-law all in the same predicament, Naomi decided
it would be best to leave Moab and return to Israel. She invited her
daughters-in-law to accompany her. After all, three women traveling together
would be better and safer than one woman traveling alone!
While they were on their way, however, Naomi had a change of heart. She
realized she was asking these girls to leave their country, their families
and their friends. She suggested to the two girls that they return to Moab.
Initially, both girls wanted to stay with Naomi and they refused to return. They loved Naomi, and they cried at the idea of having to leave her. When Naomi insisted, however, Orpah turned back. Ruth did not. She decided to follow her mother-in-law no matter where she went: Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me." (Ruth 1: 16-17, NIV)
The two traveling women made it back to Israel safely. Once back in her home
town, everyone was astounded that Naomi was back, and with her
daughter-in-law, Ruth, as well! Life wasn’t much easier, however, for the
widows, even back in Naomi’s home town. They only survived by trusting our
Heavenly Father.
Naomi was a real example of love. She always helped people. Love was in her
heart and she could not help but love others. "Be completely humble and
gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Eph 4:2)
One of the ways she showed love was to Ruth. She wanted Ruth to be
happy.
My mother was like this as well. She always put others first and she spent
time helping the elderly. She visited those who no one visited, and when the
wife of a pastor passed away, she called him every week to encourage him. My
mother genuinely loved people, and everyone loved her.
My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her late sixties. As the
condition progressed, she got to the point where she couldn’t talk well. She
communicated then with her eyes, and there was no doubt in the minds of the
people around her that she loved them. Thanks to my mom, we now have several
friends from the nursing home where she lived. My mother knew what life
looked like, and she showed it. That is my mom!
Naomi survived through love. So did my mom. Thanks to their love, they had
hope. They had no reason to be afraid. Love is contagion. Let’s resolve to
show unselfish love to one another as well!
In His love,
Rob Chaffart