Ruth-Like Behavior

“Now don’t be afraid my daughter, I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.” Ruth 3:11

Growing up in church, the book of Ruth was always heralded as the “book on how to get a man like Boaz(my own interpretation), just like the Song of Solomon was for the “spicy lovers”. To me, Boaz was this man who just swooped in, chose his bride, and rode out into the sunset on a donkey. Not until I got older and actually read it for myself that I realized that the true champion in this book was Ruth.

So…backstory for those of ya’ll who skipped Sunday School: Ruth was married to Naomi’s son. He died. Ruth and her sister in law Orpah(not to be confused with our good sis Oprah) went with Naomi back to her hometown. Naomi was distressed and really depressed and told them to go back to their families, cause she wasn’t popping out any more sons for them to marry. Orpah was like, “Love you..I’m out”, but Ruth? Ruth told Naomi in layman's terms, “When you move, I move(just like that). Really it was noble of Ruth to stay with Naomi, because it would have been easier to go back to what and who she knew. Yet I believe she knew that not only did Naomi need her, she really needed Naomi too. I mean…when you see what you’ve come from sometimes it’s easier to go into the unknown than return to what was.

So once they get back to Bethlehem, Ruth gets to work in the fields that were owned by Boaz, but she didn’t know that, and really she was wanting to help Naomi’s load get easier, not necessarily looking for a husband. Naomi played a little matchmaking, gave Ruth some good advice, and the rest is biblical history(if you want to know how it went down, read the book of Ruth-it’s literally only 4 chapters).

I remember telling one of my friends that it always behooves me how women(primarily in the church and on those recycled memes), shout about, “I want me a Boaz..yet are you a Ruth? Do you carry yourself with noble character? Do you surround yourself with other women of noble character and wisdom? Are you working on yourself in all areas-not just the ones to get you attention?

A little secret? About 6 years ago…I would have answered only 1 of those questions truthfully( let me stop lying…I would have lied-sorry sis!). I spent so many years wanting to just be in a relationship…ANY relationship, that I found myself working for man-made validation…not God’s. It took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, feelings, self-doubt, and most of all self-made heartache. It’s something when you break your own heart trying to give it to someone(or some things) not made for you. I finally realized that beyond getting a Boaz(in the words of my Pastor, he’s dead-LOL), I wanted to be a woman of noble character. Someone who took pride in who she is, what she represents, and how she speaks. I can’t be anything to anyone, if I am not first something to myself. So…this is my one rant to anyone who is just waiting for “the one”, chile…be that one for yourself first. I can’t tell you when or if that person is coming, but I’ll tell you to love yourself enough to wait until you hear from God…he ain’t been late to a party yet!

#AshleySpeak