April 7, 2019 Ruth and Naomi: The Unfamily Becomes Family
Have you noticed how many of our church members are care-givers? Mothers and grand-mothers taking care of children. Nieces caring for aunts. Wives taking care of husbands (and husbands caring for their wives). Children caring for their aging parents. And people caring for folks outside of their natural family, because of their love and concern.
While in the middle of the last century our society focused on the "nuclear family," most families today extend well beyond the classic 1950's ideal of two parents and three children. This is the situation we find in the story of Ruth and Naomi in the Old Testament book of Ruth.
Ruth, despite famine and poverty and the loss of her husband, refuses to leave her widowed mother-in-law Naomi. In one of the Bible's most familiar and moving passages, Ruth tells Naomi, "Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die - there will I be buried." Ruth becomes an eternal symbol of abiding loyalty and devotion and our example this Sunday of God's redeeming love for the world.
May God watch over our care-givers - and may no one in our community live a moment without knowing that someone cares for them.
Peace in Christ, Pastor Bob
Ruth 4:13-17
- Apr 7, 2019Ruth and Naomi: Unfamily Becomes Family
Ruth and Naomi: Unfamily Becomes Family
April 7, 2019 Ruth and Naomi: The Unfamily Becomes Family
Have you noticed how many of our church members are care-givers? Mothers and grand-mothers taking care of children. Nieces caring for aunts. Wives taking care of husbands (and husbands caring for their wives). Children caring for their aging parents. And people caring for folks outside of their natural family, because of their love and concern.
While in the middle of the last century our society focused on the "nuclear family," most families today extend well beyond the classic 1950's ideal of two parents and three children. This is the situation we find in the story of Ruth and Naomi in the Old Testament book of Ruth.
Ruth, despite famine and poverty and the loss of her husband, refuses to leave her widowed mother-in-law Naomi. In one of the Bible's most familiar and moving passages, Ruth tells Naomi, "Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die - there will I be buried." Ruth becomes an eternal symbol of abiding loyalty and devotion and our example this Sunday of God's redeeming love for the world.
May God watch over our care-givers - and may no one in our community live a moment without knowing that someone cares for them.
Peace in Christ, Pastor Bob
Ruth 4:13-17