Living For God & Enjoying His Goodness and Faithfulness

The story of Ruth from the Bible inspired me this week. I got to thinking about sweet, kind, widowed Ruth, and how she loved her mother-in-law. She stayed with her, worked in the fields to bring home food for the two of them in spite of being hated, ridiculed, judged, gossiped about and alienated. She did not dwell on those insults. She happily worked and praised the Lord while she did.

 Then one day she was noticed by the richest and most prestigious man in town. He loved her and married her. I was thinking how absurd it would have been for Ruth to frown and fret about the way she had been treated in the past, when she has now become the most envied woman in town.

 Not only has she become the most prominent and wealthy lady in town, she was also very cherished by her husband, who loved her with his whole heart. Ruth never looked back. She never sought to get revenge on those mean people in her past. She clung to her Lord and praised and thanked Him for her new life with her husband Boaz and her new baby boy.  In the same attitude of heart, I must consider my own life. I was put through a lot. I was crushed last year. But, the Lord has brought me to a new place, so it would be absurd for me to keep thinking about the cruel past. Look at the new place the Lord has brought me to. I must never look back again. I need not feel less of a person because of what happened. I must not dwell on the hurt and the gossip that surrounded me, but rather, I will be like Ruth. I will thank the Lord that I have a new life. I get to be home. I am so thankful. Here are a few photos of what I now do instead of teach full time.

I am so thankful I get to talk with my son before school and to make sure he gets on the bus each day. I missed this while I was working.

What a special blessing to be able to spend time with my son. 

I am so glad to be able to sit in my yard and enjoy the beauty around me. The Lord has given me time to cultivate the flowers and to enjoy them.

Gardening is so fun for me. I enjoy seeing God's gorgeous flowers thriving in my yard.

I have time to spend on my farm, to harvest and to preserve the food.

What a joy it is to go thrift shopping with my daughters and my sisters.

I am thankful for the time to help my mother and dad.

I have time to visit my parents and sisters.

When friends and family stop in, I have time to drop what I am doing and visit. Thank you, Lord.

I have time to plan and cook good dinners for my family.

I missed so much when I was teaching. I now have time to spend with my husband, children, nieces and nephews on our farm.

I am so blessed to have been able to attend my nephew, Grayson's, wedding.

I am so blessed to be able to enjoy days like this with my family at our nephew's wedding.

I thank God that I now have time to do fun things like this day that my daughter Jessica and I learned about bee keeping.

I remember feeling so relaxed that I fully enjoyed the party we gave my daughter, Victoria as she chose her wedding gown. I could never have felt so at ease while keeping up with my hectic teaching schedule.

One of my greatest joys has been spending time with my husband. I am no longer so rushed that I can't have coffee with him in the hot tub as we watch the sun come up in the morning.

I am grateful for times like this on hot afternoons.

I have enjoyed teaching my daughters to can. We made lots of jam and applesauce this summer.

I think picnics are so nice. I missed so many of them while I was teaching. I have so much to thank the Lord for.

I have time to sew gifts for family and friends like this pillow case. Sewing is a joy for me.

I first wrote about my teaching experience here. I now want you to know that I want to be like Ruth and cling to my Lord with thanks and praise to His name, for bringing me to a place of rest and a place that many women long to be. I get to be with my family and to make my house a home. No more pouting or fretting about not getting to teach kindergarten. No grieving over being treated badly by mean girls. God is good and He knows what He is doing. I am truly grateful to Him.

Ruth 2:11-12

Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”