Meat for the Hungry

    Today is Mother’s Day and pulpits once again will turn to Proverbs 31 to preach about this most wonderful woman.     To me, it always feels like a checklist of qualities I must strive to accomplish. “She does [her husband] good and not evil…” Check – got that one. “…she brings food from afar…” Yep! Got that one too – from the far place of the grocery store. “She also rises while it is night…” – still working on this one. “…considers a field… buys it… [and] plants a vineyard.” Not!     The list goes on and on, but I fear the unchecked qualities far outnumber my checked ones. So, does that mean my children won’t “rise up and call me blessed” or my husband won’t “praise” me? No, my desire, like hers, is to be the best wife and mother I can be; to make sure my family has all they need for healthy living. But, there are only twenty-four hours in the day and unfortunately, I’m not perfect. I can’t do it all or fix everything, even thoug...

Ruth 1:19-22: It was April and the beginning of barley harvest when Naomi, with Ruth, returned to Bethlehem.  The whole city was excited. They hadn’t seen Naomi in years and the women of Bethlehem almost didn’t recognize her. So, they asked, “Is this Naomi?” Over time, everyone changes, but Naomi’s grief had greatly altered her countenance. Her face did not express the pleasant, delightful and lovely person she was when she left.  Quickly Naomi retorted, “…Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara [meaning bitterness], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”