What Makes a Family?

 By the time Ruth finished beating the grain and collecting it all together, she found that she had gleaned about an ephah measure, or 20 dry quarts (22 l), of barley. Her load must have weighed some 30 pounds (14 kg)! She hoisted it, perhaps bundling it in a cloth and carrying it on her head, and then made her way to Bethlehem in the gathering darkness. - RUTH 2:17.

Naomi was pleased to see her beloved daughter-in-law, and perhaps she gasped in surprise as she saw Ruth's heavy load of barley. Ruth also brought some food left over from the meal that Boaz had provided for the workers, and the two thus shared a meal. Naomi asked: "Where did you glean today, and where did you work. May the one who took notice of you become blessed." (Ruth 2:19) Naomi was attentive; she saw proof in Ruth's heavy load of provisions that someone had taken notice of the young widow and had treated her kindly. 

The two fell to conversing, and Ruth told Naomi about the kindness of Boaz. Moved, Naomi replied: "Blessed be he of Jehovah, who has not left off his loving-kindness toward the living and the dead." (Ruth 2:20) She saw the kindness of Boaz as coming from Jehovah, who moves his servants to be generous and promises to reward his people for the kindness they show. - Read PROVERBS 19:17. 

Next time: What Makes a Family? - Conclusion

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