Based on the “Book of Ruth”
How she moaned – how she groaned,
Her heart so ached – was sorely grieved as she perceived,
That life was just not dealing fair,
For dead was now her second son – leaving her without an heir!
Even though – life must go on…
Forward bent from sorrow, Naomi said, “Tomorrow
I will leave this land with nothing in my hand,
Full have I come – empty now return to home…
……………
“From Bethlehem with husband Elimelech and two young sons I came,
Sojourning here in Moab to escape the deadly famine.
Then we settled, made ourselves a home,
Life looked secure for future years to come.
Each son did find a lovely mate
There was happiness, contentment, all was great.
Then – suddenly, my loving husband passed away
He was my comfort every day…
O, How I miss him still! Though years have gone, I will
Always feel the loss, for my great love and joy he was…
My oldest, Mahlon, bravely did provide for us, and all was well.
Then he was stricken by some strange disease,
Nothing helped, his death had robbed me of my peace.
Mahlon had no son, so to Chilion we held on,
Hoping he would beget a son.
But alas, it was not long – then even precious Chilion – he was gone…
So, we women worked to make ends meet,
Serving masters, to have food to eat.
Tears and pain filled our hearts and days,
Uncertainty loomed over us in all its ways.
My soul is sorely grieved,
I am bereaved, bereaved, bereaved!
“Oh God! Thine arrow hit me very hard,
It simply tears my heart apart!
I am crushed, the burden of my loss, weighs heavy on,
Wears me down, have no one left who is my own…
“Orpha, Ruth, my dear daughters I must leave,
This place of my misfortune here no more can face.
I heard in Judah there is bread again,
God had blessed the land, gone has now the famine.
You are dear to me, I will return from where I did come,
So, I bid you also to go home,
To your mother’s house, God shall also bless you with a new, dear spouse.”
They all wept, yet Ruth and Orpha would not leave Naomi,
But she urged them stay behind in their own homeland
New happiness to find.
Then Orpha kissed her, weeping then did go.
Ruth, she said, “Constrain me not to leave you,
Please do hear me, you are my mother and I love you dearly.
Where you are going, I will go,
Where you will live, I will live,
Thy people be my people,
Thy God shall be my God. Where you die, I will die.
I will be with you till death part you and me.”
“O, Ruth, my daughter, how precious is your love in my distress,
To stay with me in my great loneliness!
We are both widows, together shall we bear our loss,
So come with me, lets go, may God cause His grace
And favour come upon you in great measure,
And secure you are most blessed future!”….
Then with their few possessions on two donkeys on they went
Marching toward Naomi’s homeland.
……………….
Passing through the river Arnon into Reuben northward,
Up to crossing Jordan, westward into Benjamin
Then south to Judea into Bethlehem.
They journeyed what they could each day,
Progressing more or less, depending on the way,
Finding shelters for some rest and Inns to stay,
Though Naomi’s heart was filled with grief,
Her mind did also find relief,
Having Ruth’s presence close beside with her devotion and compassion,
Helping, caring in all the journey’s wearisome occasions.
God’s grace, His protecting, mighty hand,
Was daily over them in travelling through the land.
After crossing Jordan and the last leg of travel now before them
To Naomi’s home in Bethlehem, her mind was getting anxious,
Mixed feelings robbed her to be joyous –
How could she face her friends and neighbours?
What will they think, seeing she comes home without her family?
Alone – yet with a heathen stranger at her side,
it will indeed to all a quite peculiar sight!…
Then entering the little town, Naomi, she was not at ease –
Two women with two donkeys – who are these?
The people looked, then one woman shouted: “It is Naomi!”
At this some others quickly came, happily to greet her,
then was shrouded by a throng
to welcome her, whom they were missing for so long.
They shout, “Naomi, Naomi!”
But she cried out in woesome tone: “Call me not Naomi!
Call me Mara, (bitter) for the LORD had dealt very bitterly with me!
Full I went out, but now returned alone…”
…………………
At last Naomi stepped into her house again,
Past sweet memories did pierce her heart with pain,
Living here with her beloved, returning now as one berobbed,
Left alone – it was truly grievous, sad and bittersome.
But as she saw the gentle, caring love of Ruth,
Comforting her where she ever could,
Naomi’s mind looked upward, forward once again,
Trusting God will not be in vain.
Her heart was knit with that of Ruth, as this precious Moabitess
Loved God’s truth, thus Naomi overcame her sadness and distress,
She so wished for Ruth to find true happiness.
What seemed that God dealt very hard,
In causing so much grief of heart,
Which then Naomi could not understand,
But the ways and thoughts of God are grand,
By choosing Ruth to meet her in a strange land,
Then bring this Moabitess to her homeland.
By Providence then to unite her with Boaz, the wealthy kinsman,
Then Naomi’s woe was turned to greatest joy,
When she became nurse to the firstborn boy!
So that at the end Naomi’s soul was satisfied, content.
She also did then understand.
Her tears and sorrow for her loss, were not in vain,
For she will see her loved ones once again,
To live blissfully and happily – throughout eternity. Amen.
Edda Tedford, Canada