Shortly after midnight on February 17th, 2015, my husband’s phone rang. When he looked at it, he said, “It’s your mom.” I knew right then that something was wrong, but I never expected to hear the words that he said next, “Your dad has passed away.”
When we arrived at my parents’ house in Wagoner an hour later, two men were just getting ready to take my dad out on a gurney. They stopped just long enough for my sister, Brandee, and I to see him. It was a rough night to say the least, but my mom seemed to be handling it so well. She was crying, of course, but she had kept her wits about her and knew just what needed to be done. She had somehow known who to call and what to do.
Since that tragic night six years ago, my mom (Roseanne) has shocked me over and over with the amazing strength and courage that she has shown in the trying times she faces daily. My dad had done pretty much everything around the house: mowing their over-an-acre property, weedeating, working on the cars, driving, etc. Mom bravely took over those tasks and shocked both Brandee and me continually with each brave new task she performed. For Mother’s Day a year or so after my dad passed, I gave her a bracelet that says “Courage” on it, and she proudly wears it, knowing that it symbolizes what she has come through in her life. She recently made the difficult decision to leave her home of many years to move to Sand Springs to be closer to family.
It’s hard for me to read the story of Ruth without thinking of my mom. Naomi took her two sons and followed her husband out of the place where she had grown up, Jerusalem, away from the people she knew, to a new place full of strangers. Then years later after losing her husband and both of her sons, she bravely returned home. Naomi (this name means pleasantness) was so consumed by the sadness from the loss of her husband and sons that she changed her name to Mara, which means bitter. (As I read this first book of Ruth, I wondered why it wasn’t called Naomi.) She was so loved and respected by her two daughters-in-law that they were both willing to leave everything they knew to follow her back to Jerusalem, but Naomi was selfless and encouraged both of these young women to stay in their home town and look for other husbands. Ruth loved Naomi so much though that she refused to leave her side.
The rest of the story is told in books 2-4. If you have the Bible app, I encourage you to do the following plan this week: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/16306
The audio commentary that goes with it gave me so much insight into the lives of Naomi and Ruth. It’s a true story of love and redemption.
Have you suffered loss in your life? Most of us have. Having the courage to move on, stay pleasant and not become a bitter woman can be difficult, but God uses our trials to make us stronger.
“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NLT
Stay strong, my friends. Your rewards in Heaven will be way greater than the losses in this world.
Chelynn is a contributing writer for Shaken and Stirred. She is a long-time daughter of Christ, a wife, mother of two amazing adult children, and Nonnie to four beautiful grandchildren. She teaches Senior English at Charles Page High School and is also a Realtor for Keller Williams. She enjoys all things summer including boating, vacationing, and swimming.
Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash