Most of us (women) can understand what it means to be a daughter-in-law and/or Mother-in-law. It evokes humor in the comedians. All too many times we see pain in the face and heart of the in-law, being daughter or mother. Sometimes joy, sometimes angry but many times jealousy and or resentment in the heart.
God honors the family in many ways and speaks of each and every family relationship. But, we so often look to TV sitcoms, soaps or comedians to give us a map to relationships including our in-law relationships.
So many times I wonder what God is thinking about all this. I am speaking mostly of Americans since I only see America TV.
Most of us have read the story of Naomi and her two daughter-in-laws Orpah and Ruth. We many times inscribe the following scriptures in our wedding rings and Bibles and want so much to live out this story. Or, I should say the life of Ruth not Orpah. But do we? Do we understand it?
Let us look at the following scriptures and open our minds and hearts to the Holy Spirit. Do we have something we can add, or a story to tell, encouragement that would help to better understand how we can be better daughter-in-laws and mother -in -laws.
The part I like best is that Ruth not only wanted to be a part of her Mother-in-law for financial and other benefits of marriage but also wanted to embrace her God, her Faith, and her religion.
Let us read the following scriptures for our discussion.
Passage Ruth 1:16-17:
16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
King James
Passage Ruth 1:16-17:
16But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”
New Living Translation (NLT)
Passage Ruth 1:16-17:
16But Ruth said, “Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I’ll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; 17where you die, I’ll die, and that’s where I’ll be buried, so help me GOD-not even death itself is going to come between us!”
The Message (MSG)
thedailylily.com 
This is quite a stunning article! It certainly provokes a lot of emotion and even more thought and questions concerning what the Scriptures say about this hot topic. In Genesis 2:24 the first Adam says that since woman was taken “out of man” by the Lord God, then he shall leave his father and mother, become united and cleave to his wife and they shall become one flesh, (Of course this was before Adam had a mother!!); but anyway….Then in Mark 10:7,and Matthew 19:5 the Second ADAM, Jesus, says that a man shall leave behind his father and mother and be joined to his wife. Now this sort of sounds like a dilemma as nothing is stated about the wife’s leaving her mother and father to cleave to her husband. And then again in Ephesians 5:31, Paul advocates that same advisement that a man shall leave his father and mother & be joined to his wife.
Does that mean that the Lord doesn’t want the husband to minister to his parents? I don’t think so. There is a Scripture in Mark 7:10-11 where Jesus is teaching and admonishing the people concerning what Moses ( the commandments) teach about honoring your father and your mother with great respect. But Jesus goes on to say,,, that the pharisiacal ones exempt themselves from this command of the Lord by saying to their parents whom they could give aid & assistance to..
“anything that I have that would have been of good use to you, my parents , is “CORBAN”. That is…already given as an offering to God or to the church so you exempt yourselves from honoring and helping your parents. Thus, Jesus says, “you make the Word of God of none effect.”
I believe the command of the Lord to honor our parents is for all time. Yes, we cleave to our mates but also keep high regard for our parents on either side of the wedding altar.
Your comments brings to my mind, without love we cannot please God. Therefore, we need to love and honor both good and bad relationships. Now how does one do this.
Luke 6:35 (Whole Chapter)
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
The thought comes to my mind “Bloom where you are planted.” Many and too many times we use this thought to see our hobbies, crafts, careers, etc. bloom while totally disregarding relationships and especially those that we preceive not to like, or maybe even the ones we do like.
Anais Nin wrote “And the day came when the risk (it took) to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” I believing gardening (as in Bud, Blossom and Bloom from my radio teaching series) as well as art, chicken/egg, farming, etc is a great way to explore some personal growth issues ( as in this blog and others like it) by being authentic with oneself. My *Mother always told me Nature is a wise and patient teacher and mentor.
*A mother of 12 children and mother-in-law of 10, (as two of her children died very young) as well as being a daughter-in-law that had her Mother-in-law live- in with her. And, not to help with the children but for my Mother to care for her in her illness. She was an avid gardener, (of flowers and food) raised chickens as well as other livestock, seamstress, shop owner of her own store where she grew and made lots of her merchandise as well as other beautiful and needful items for the community. Very active in her church. Published writer of poems and songs as well as other stories. I could say lots more but I will have to give her more space than a short blog. The Bible was her source and strength and she was strong!!!!!!!
This courageous woman your mother, not only blossomed but she bloomed profusely and her fragrance wafted throughout her community. This bespeaks of the PROVERBS 31 woman. You pay homage to a truly remarkable woman. The Bible says of such a one, “who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. Her children shall arise up and call her blessed.” How gracious of GOD to give you such a compassionate and God-fearing mother. Her story inspires us and spurs us on to exemplify these marvelous character traits in our own lives. Thank you for sharing her with us.
The Bible speaks of “how love works” in the chapter you quoted..Luke 6:35…and in 1 Cor. 13, (the LOVE chapter). And in Proverbs 25:21-22 and in Romans 12: 20, paraphrasing: the Word says to treat your “enemy”, the one who opposes you, with compassion. If he is hungry and/or thirsty, give him bread and drink, or whatever he/she is in need of at that time. And the next part of the Scriptures is most amazing. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. The footnote explains the “coals of fire” elicit pangs of shame at the good deed done to the “opposing party” that lead to reconciliation and restoration of the relationship. And then the Scripture says…and the Lord shall reward thee!!!This may be a hard saying, but it’s HOW LOVE WORKS. Jesus did it!
MG
I enjoyed this devotion/blog! ? “the Lord shall reward thee” Maybe this could be a great reward for all since The Word says “if your ways please Me, then I will even make your enemies be at Peace with you.” ( Proverbs 16:7)
Yes! The Lord promises that “the enemies”, those that oppose us, whether in our own households, our professional lives or….even sometimes in the Body Of Christ, HE will bring to reconciliation and hopefully, total salvation and restoration and PEACE! What a promise! What a Challenge! I want the PROMISE. Can I meet the challenge? Hopefully, by Faith in the anointing that resides within the born-again believer we can OVERCOME by facing that challenge to walk in love. THEN BY FAITH that spurs us to good DEEDS, (see BLOG on Sara’s mother)we will reap the rewards of PEACE with our “enemies”.
This is such a beautiful article. I love the story of Ruth and Naomi. Ruth wanted to embrace Naomi and her faith. The cords of true “FAITH” bind like no other. I’m so fortunate to have a wonderful daughter-in-law who has embraced the faith in Jesus and is very loving indeed. What else could anyone ask for than to have someone else to discuss and share JESUS with.
That is a blessing to you. I am reminded of the following scripture. But many times we miss this truth and then we have to start anew with a different approach. ie, how we speak, where we go, what we do? We have guidelines for this as well from Hiw Word.
King James Version (KJV)
2 Corinthians 6:14 _Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?