Courageous Women

Today you find the end of a story about a courageous woman and the beginning story of another courageous woman.
Ruth was a woman who took her role as a woman seriously. In the world today where we have seen servitude slandered, put down, and un-glorified, it's nice to see that some things still have not changed in this world. (Wow! Solomon comments on that). It is tough for us, as people, to accept what God has placed on us, as men and women, to do forever. Men were created to work, lead, and provide for their families. Women were created to nurture, bear children, and be a help mate (that includes working).
Both men and women are equal in value but given different responsibilities. Ruth was a woman who was strong, understood her role, embraced it, and did it in such a way that God allowed her to be a part of the heritage of Christ.
It is amazing what happens when we submit our will to God's will. I don't care if you are a man or a woman, we all have to submit our will to His will. Jesus himself showed us that in the Garden before his death, "not my will, but Your will be done".
1. Ruth doesn't leave her family even when her family pushes her way.
2. She doesn't complain about her circumstances.
3. She does something about it..
She shows love to her mother-in-law who is embittered and she wins her over with loyalty. Ruth sees that Naomi is mentally unstable and sticks with her to provide for her. Naomi is so overcome with bitterness and maybe physical sickness, to the point she allows Ruth to go out and work for them.
Ruth shows Naomi love and care and earns the respect of men because of her hard work ethics. I don't know for sure how much 6 measures of barley weighs, but I would almost bet that it weighs more than 50 lbs. She worked in that field every day, she even brought back leftovers for Naomi. She earned the respect of Boaz so much, he allowed her to glean with his own servant girls.
Naomi is no dummy, she realizes she has a blessing and coached her and Ruth listened. Nothing like a girl that smells good. When my wife wears her perfume around me it gets my attention. And any time I smell how good she smells, from oils or lotions, it gets my attention quick.
There is a lot we can all learn from Ruth: her dedication to her family, her loyalty to trust God, and the result of being faithful to God's will, even if it isn't what is popular.
Now for Hannah; a woman who is faithful to cry out to God, until finally her petition is heard: a husband that loves her and has compassion for her and gives her double portions for sacrifice.
Men, if your wife is at home, are you empowering her to give to God, are you sharing a portion with her to be able to give to back to God as well? If she needed it, are you willing to give her a double portion so that she can do what she fills called to do? Part of our responsibility is to magnify the gifts our God has given our wives so they too are able to bring glory to God in the talents that He has given them.
Hannah, courageous enough to go before the Lord to asked to be blessed; faithful enough to give her son to the Lord when it was time; and maintained her love over the years as her son served the living God who blessed her.
I hope out of the character of these two women you learn something about courageousness, love, faithfulness, respect, and God's amazing love for you. May He find you as faithful as they were, despite their circumstances.