Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; — Ruth 1:16.
As we travel on our Lenten journey Ruth’s famous words to her mother-in-law come to mind, and her loyalty to her family is worthy of a meditation or two.
I have written a great deal lately about service to neighbors, community service, and charitable work as part of our lenten discipline, and perhaps too much. We are familiar with the proverb, “Charity begins at home.” which probably originates from 1 Timothy 5:8 — “And whoever does not provide for relatives and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
When we pray, when we meditate, and when we think about service and care for our neighbors don’t forget about family including in-laws, remember Ruth’s Naomi was her mother-in-law. Is there a member of your family who needs an act of kindness or a helping hand?
I am very fortunate to have stayed in communication with my cousins on both sides of my family. We are taught to do so by our parents, and I hope I have passed that gift on to my children. Family is one of God’s greatest gifts, don’t forget them.
Leave a Reply +