MOTHERS OUTSIDE THE NORM

"For all mothers whose voices are still not heard," I hear your cry! It has always been amazing to me how women can succeed in raising their children with fewer resources than men in most cases.The great majority of successful individuals assert that their mother is the foundation of their success.Booker T.Washington, George, Washington Carver, Rosa Parks, Mary McLeod Bethune, George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Bill Clinton, this list is just a short example. I attribute all my success in my life, to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I got from her, said George Washington.

The text gives us a great paradigm of a woman who goes beyond the norm as a wife, widow, and mother.I call your attention to the following verses: Ruth 1:16-18 And Ruth said, Entreat 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: where 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.

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. Ruth, the Moabite, became King David's great-grandma. Her lineage... extends all the way to Jesus... because of her faithfulness to the Israelites. She was not a Jewish Semite.

Moab was a prosperous country. However, the people worshiped false gods. After the death of Naomi's sons, she was the loyal daughter-in-law who clung to Naomi and followed Yahweh, the God of Israel, giving up her complete heritage and lifestyle.Un like Orpah, the other daughter-in-law who separated from Naomi never to be heard of again.

At the end of her book, Ruth becomes the wife of the wealthy Boaz' and the mother of Obed's. The Book of Ruth has four chapters which entail the story of a virtuous woman.It was written some time after the period of the judges (1375-1050 B.C.). The books of Ruth and Esther have the distinction of being the only two books in the Bible written about women.

The dominant cultural stereotype of the "good mother, said Coll, is a woman who is married and works outside the home in a job that does not take her away "too much" from her parenting responsibilities. She has no more than two children, and they have no handicaps or behavioral problems; she conceived her children and is raising them in a heterosexual relationship, and she and her spouse are older than 20 and are of the same ethnic and racial background.

Mothers who are compromised in their ability to access resources will be vilified, such as welfare mothers, mothers in prison and mothers who are homeless. Other mothers will be the target of political campaigns such as lesbian mothers, working mothers, and single mothers. "The extent of mothers' self-sacrifices and their ability to cope with everything ... from breastfeeding a two-pound newborn... to raising a child who is disabled or has a difficult temperament ...is astonishing," said Coll. However, just as astonishing ...is society's inability or unwillingness to recognize... the true difficulty of all these endeavors!

It has been said, a mother understands what a child does not say." I remember visiting the Greensboro, NC Urban Ministry Homeless Shelter. That facility had 132 beds total ...for men and women. There were 116 beds ...occupied by men and only ...16 occupied by women. This pattern seems to hold true all over the country. Most churches seem to have more women as members than men. There are more African American Female business owners than men. The percentage of individuals in prison is greater among men than women.It seems that the great common denominator between Ruth and the successful mothers of today is perseverance.

This character trait seems to be the foundation for all achievement. I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles, said Christopher Reeve. What can we learn from Ruth and today's exceptional mothers? The case is clear! God Blesses Diligent and Faithful Mothers.

Consider the following: Ruth refuses to leave her mother-in-law Naomi Ruth gives up her wealthy country of Moab to stay with Naomi Ruth gives up her false god to serve the true God of Israel Ruth is willing to work as a servant in Boaz's fields Ruth marries the wealthy Boaz Ruth gives up everything for God and family Ruth is a labor of love.

When Mothers stay with God and Their Families; God Blesses Them! Trust in the Lord and do well; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:3-5, 7a) Esco Yancey,Jr. Ed.D.(ACSI) © 2008 GOSPEL TIMES MINISTRIES

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