Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 24, 2015
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. Ruth 1:16
Rita and I moved from Alabama to Texas for graduate school soon after marriage. We went from a drive of 5 minutes to our in-laws to 12 hours. I went from the favorite son-in-law (I was the only one!) to the son-in-law who was expected to move my family closer to kin—sooner than later. Because of my insecurities and the natural tension between in-laws I was exasperated when I felt I fell short. Today my father-in-law and I are best friends, but it took mutual intentionality. We moved to Georgia (3 hours away) and my in-laws visited often—that helped. Love pursues!
Naomi treated Ruth and Orpah (her two widowed daughters-in-laws) with kindness. Lovingly, she insisted they return to the safe and secure confines of their mother’s home. Naomi wanted God’s best for these younger women. She wanted to prayerfully support them in what they did, without telling them what to do. Mother-in-laws secure in Christ point their daughter-in-laws to Christ. Daughter-in-laws hungry for God are fed by the intimate faith of their in-laws. Ruth respectfully appealed to stay with Naomi. They enjoyed harmony, because they both trusted God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
Two very good women can have two very different perspectives of the same person. Hence the mother-in-law sees her son as her child and the daughter-in-law sees her husband as her man. So, wise is the mother-in-law who takes the lead and serves her daughter-in-law. Instead of expecting her to bake for you—give her an unexpected break by cooking a meal for her. Tell your son’s wife how much you respect who she is and how you admire her love for your son. The mother-in-law who has the best relationship with her daughter-in-law has released her son to his wife.
The daughter-in-law who learns to love and appreciate her mother-in-law for who she is—is at peace. Ask your mother-in-law for her advice. Honor her by embracing some of her ideas. Be willing to share her son by encouraging them to spend time together. Conversely, collaborate with your husband on how to set boundaries between you and your in-laws. Your heavenly Father will use your love to draw your husband’s mom closer to Christ. Treat your mother-in-law the way you want your children’s spouses to treat you. Love with patient kindness and believe the best.
“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person” (1 Corinthians 13:7, Amplified Bible).
Post/Tweet this today: Patient parents support their adult children in what they do, without telling them what to do. #inlawharmony #wisdomhunters
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