Ruth and Naomi

Here is a story about a friend who simply would not say goodbye.

Long ago, no food would grow around the town of Bethlehem. So a woman named Naomi, her husband, and their two sons moved far away to the land of Moab. Her sons grew up and married two young women from Moab, named Orpah and Ruth. But then sad things happened. Naomi's husband died, and later, both of her sons died too.

Naomi was far from home, and her heart felt empty.

Then Naomi heard good news. God had given his people food again in Bethlehem! So Naomi set off for home, and Orpah and Ruth went with her. On the way, Naomi told them to go back to their mothers, and asked God to be kind to them. They all cried. Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye and went home. But Ruth held on tight, and would not let go.

Ruth said, "Where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay." "Your people will be my people, and your God my God."

So the two of them walked together, all the long way to Bethlehem.

They arrived just as the barley harvest began. But Ruth and Naomi had no food. Now, God's law told farmers to leave some grain in their fields, for poor people to pick up. So Ruth asked if she could go and pick up grain, and Naomi said, "Go, my daughter." Off she went, and it just so happened that she came to the field of Boaz, a kind man from Naomi's family.

When Boaz came to his field, he said to his workers, "May the Lord be with you." And they answered, "May the Lord bless you." Boaz noticed Ruth working hard in the hot sun. He told her to stay in his field, where she would be safe, and to drink from his water jars. Ruth bowed low, and asked why he was being so kind to a stranger like her. Boaz said he had heard how kind she had been to Naomi. He prayed that God would bless her, because she had come to shelter under God's wings.

Then he told his workers to drop some extra barley on purpose, where Ruth would find it. Ruth kept finding more and more barley. It wasn't luck. It was kindness! That evening, she carried home a big bundle of barley, and some of her lunch for Naomi too. Naomi's eyes grew wide. She said, "Where have you worked? Blessed be he who noticed you."

When Ruth told her it was Boaz, Naomi was overjoyed. God had not stopped being kind to them!

All through the harvest, Ruth worked in Boaz's field, and they had enough to eat.

Then Naomi had an idea. In those days, a close relative could take care of a family that had lost its father. So Ruth asked Boaz to take care of her and Naomi, because he was a close relative. Boaz was very pleased. He told her not to be afraid, and said everyone in town knew she was a good woman. But first, Boaz had to ask another relative, who was even closer to the family.

The man said no. He even took off his sandal to show the deal was done. That's how people made promises back then! So Boaz married Ruth, and God gave them a baby boy. The women of Bethlehem told Naomi that Ruth loved her so much, she was better to her than seven sons! Naomi held the baby close, and cared for him. Her empty heart was full again.

They named him Obed, and he grew up to be the grandfather of King David. And many years later, Jesus would be born into that very same family!

This story teaches us that kindness sticks by people, even when things are hard.

Ruth was kind to Naomi, Boaz was kind to Ruth, and God was kind to them all.