Namoi's Mother's Day

This seems the perfect reading for Mother's Day 2016. While Naomi wasn't Ruth's mother, Ruth loved and respected the older woman as though she were.  This love was reciprocated. Ruth stayed with Naomi and they traveled the widowhood road together, caring for each other.

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” (Ruth 1:8-9)

We don’t know much of the backstory, and I believe God’s Word intentionally tells us just enough to allow application for our own lives.  Many stories in His Word relate and allow us to apply them to situations in which we find ourselves.

But Ruth replied, “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. (Ruth 1:16-17)

Naomi lost both of her sons.  Ruth lost her husband. The two found one another and a bond grew to the point that Naomi was as a mother to the younger woman, advising and loving her like a biological mother would. 

Together they stepped into the plan God had for each of their lives.

 Ruth 1:3-18

Love Doesn't Fear

Acts 9:36-43 (NIV) All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.  Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.  He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.  This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.   

Dorcas made a strong impression on her community.  This woman commanded the love and respect of many.  She spent her life doing good, serving the poor in her hometown, concentrating on widows.

When she became ill, the disciples in Joppa didn't hesitate to reach out to Peter who was in a nearby town.  They implored him to come and try to provide a cure for this woman of God. But, by the time Peter arrived, she had died.

Dorcas was a friend to widows and those friends stood by her.  When she became ill, they were with her going so far as to call upon someone who could help, a disciple who had been known to pray to Jesus for healing people.

This passage makes me ask about my own faith. I know Jesus cares about my well-being and that He is capable of curing any illness I might encounter. But, do I really believe He is available to me, is close enough to hear my prayers? I am working on trust and realize if and when I truly trust, my faith with be obvious and there will be no more fear.   Perfect love casts out fear. (1John 4:18)

Acts 9:36-43