Ruth 1:16.

“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.”

I want to be the kind of mother in law my daughter in law would stick with.

 

I know it sounds silly- but when you read the story of Ruth, you have to be in awe about her commitment to her mother in law. Naomi was a widow. She had lost both of her sons. Essentially, sticking with her was not the culturally practical thing to do. Ruth had options- she wasn’t too old to remarry. She wasn’t obligated to Naomi- yet she stayed. She made her own decision and stuck with her, even sacrificing herself to work so Naomi didn’t have to. She put herself out there in honor of her mother in law. She embraced her as a friend. She truly loved her unconditionally.  And she ended up blessed beyond what she had ever imagined.

 

To love someone unconditionally is a big order. Unconditionally means without condition. It means there is nothing you could ever do to make someone love you less. NOTHING. Regardless of what happens, what is said or actions taken, unconditional love supersedes everything else, without exception. I think it would be really hard to love someone in this way if they weren’t even related to you.

 

Loving unconditionally would mean putting everything that had ever happened- ever- aside and moving forward like nothing ever happened. Just like Jesus when we turn ourselves over to him, submitting ourselves and inviting the Holy Spirit in. I love this story- it speaks of redemption and truth on such a level to me.

 

It makes me strive to be for my daughter in law someone I would like to have for myself. I want to respect her, and accept her for who she is, and I want her to do that for me in return. It is hard sometimes, with the world pressing in. One thing is for certain- I will continue to read and absorb all Ruth has done for Naomi, and Naomi’s reaction to her.

The challenge is unconditional love- what can we do in our everyday lives to continue the theme of unconditional love for those around us? How can we love our in laws better? What are some personal steps we can take to ensure our relationships are led with unconditional love?