Lay It on Me

W HEN G OD G ETS IN YOUR S HOES / 85

like Rachel and Leah ... and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem (Ruth 4:11, 12). The greatest blessing was: be famous in Bethlehem! The people realized this marriage was not your normal "I-need-a- wife" and "I'm-after-a husband" relationship. Ruth didn't choose Boaz by chasing him across the barley field. She did not pursue him in romance nor flirt with him by bragging on his appearance. She just worked in the harvest. She kept her focus on the work and GOD brought in the man!

In her exaltation, she never forgot Naomi. In fact, she stayed connected to Naomi in a personal, intimate way. When her son, Obed, was born, it was Naomi who took the child and became its nurse. No, Naomi didn't get another son for Ruth to marry, but she did get a child of destiny to raise.

As Obed grew, perhaps Naomi told the child the story of the journey from Moab to Bethlehem, of God's provision and his mother's destiny. Naomi had quite a heritage to pass on to her grandson and, for that matter, to the world. If Naomi had written a book, perhaps it would have been called, From Moab to Bethlehem—My Recovery from Tragedy. You must never forget the people who brought you to your