Modern day life can breed a sense of defensiveness. I know this is true for my own life. Challenges seem to wrap around the heart, often leading to responses that are frequently guarded, being caught up in our own thoughts and struggles. We forget that the world beyond our own concerns is also seeking to gain entry into our lives and into the lives of our family.
As mothers, we are gatekeepers to the heart of our home’s. We desire and believe that our homes should always be a safe haven for our family. We lean on faith and embrace the nature of Yeshua our Messiah to help us guide our households in love and wisdom. We draw inspiration from stories like Ruth, who, despite losing everything, chose to love her mother-in-law faithfully and build legacy that would lead to generations of hope.
Ruth’s choice to see the hope that lied before her and not to turn back to her past led her into a new life under the guidance of her new found faith. It wasn’t a selfish drive, but one of obedience and confident hope with a humility to do what it takes. How can we translate this into our current day experiences?
Reflecting on the existential idea that life is a journey, we can insert the exploration of preparing for a trip to a foreign land, just like Ruth did. Certainly Ruth asked a lot of questions about the land she was going to, as a means to help her prepare for the journey ahead. Her thoughts would rest on the future relationships and interactions with Naomi’s family traditions and beliefs. She would adjust her own understanding of customs to align with the new environment that she would now be a part of.
Changing what she thought to be a part of her identity would’ve been a daunting task. Today we see that same challenge – to give up Christmas, easter, valentines day and all the other indoctrinated customs that are not Biblical or of the Way and replacing them with the appointed feasts and instructions found in the Torah. It requires humility to admit that some traditions might need adjustment, that some customs were mere disguises for disobedience. Yet, just like Ruth, we find hope in the promises and in following the direction of the path laid before us.
Ruth’s determination was renewed throughout her journey as she embraced the adventure ahead. We laydown our defensiveness and pick up the hope, the inspiration for a new adventure of love, joy and promises of our faithful King and Savior Yashua our Messiah when we choose to walk the path laid before us in the instruction of the Almighty God. For all of His instruction – which most call the law- is for our good and the good of those in our family. Be bold – Be strong! Do Bible things in Bible ways!