Words that Inspire

My Introduction to Ruth

I read the book of Ruth a couple months ago and I learned a few things from it. One of the things that stood out the most was the relationship between Naomi and Ruth. I forgot all about it, until a week or two ago, when a passage from the book of Ruth popped up during my family’s bible study session.

I have always wondered about the relationship between mothers and daughters in laws. My paternal grandmother passed away before I was born, but I grew up hearing, from my mother, that she was a great Mother-in-law. She was a tenderhearted woman, who treated my mother like one of her own kids. She was slow to anger, quick to point out mistakes made, but just as eager to issue praise when things were done right. When she passed away, my mother was really distraught.

The relationship between my Mom and my paternal grandmother was my introduction to the relationship between daughters and mothers in law. Despite that, I have grown up believing that daughters in law, in general, view mothers in law as either demons straight from the pits of hell or the ultimate test sent to them from God. I can count, on one hand, the number of movies, dramas, and books that I’ve come across that portrays this relationship in a positive light. Until I came across Ruth and Naomi.

Each time I’ve read the book of Ruth, my focus has always been on how God not only restored her, after a season of loss, but caused her to be related to Jesus (She was king David’s great grand mother and Jesus was born into David’s line). Perhaps my increasing thoughts and desire on settling down made me view Ruth’s story in a different light. Whatever it was, I wrapped up my study of the story with two questions: Was Naomi the perfect mother in law? Was Ruth the perfect daughter in law?

If I recall correctly, Ruth chose to follow Naomi after her husband died. She was a young woman who had her whole life ahead of her, but she chose to follow a woman who was returning to a country that she hadn’t called home in more than 10 years, with no money, goods or properties to her name. I am not exactly sure why she made that choice. The bible didn’t mention it and try as hard as I can, when I think of it, it is not a logical choice. If you love her so much (I am referring to Ruth), why not get married to someone else and then send her money or take care of her? It all worked out well for Ruth (She married one of the richest men around), but before she was blessed, she had no idea it would happen.

I posed this question to my sounding board (my Mom) and her answer was that Ruth had compassion. After she married into the family, Ruth viewed Naomi as family and you do not abandon one of your own. She also says that unconditional love was involved. Ruth loved Naomi with no strings attached. That answer made me ask another question. Just how wonderful a mother-in-law was Naomi, to inspire such loyalty and love from Ruth? Are you asking the same question?

Ruth’s loyalty and love for Naomi is inspiring and must have come about because of the relationship they had when her husband was alive. However, I still wonder. What about the mother-in-laws we have heard about and seen, who, for whatever reason, are out to torment their daughter-in-laws? Should the daughter-in-laws, just swallow everything and hope that there is some good at the end? I bet Naomi’s instructions probably didn’t make much sense to Ruth, but she followed and obeyed.