Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: FAMILY (01/21/16)
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TITLE: The Choice | Previous Challenge Entry
By Terry R A Eissfeldt
01/27/16 -
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Two other women are near. One mirroring the mother: slumped, shaking, and wailing. One standing tall, staring at the entombed form slowly passing from view as each clump of fruitless dirt slowly fills the grave.
Finally the body is covered. Finally the women stand, and together, entwined in each others arms, they journey home.
Time passes unnoticed in the depths of despair. Life slowly ebbs away in the land of the living-dead. However, as each insufferable day passes to night, the raking pain dulls and some reason returns to the survivors.
“I must return home,” Naomi whispers, “I’ve heard the Lord has once more filled The House of Bread with sustenance. We should have never left.” Naomi sighs heavily. Regret hangs in the air like the stench of death.
So many regrets; the move to a foreign land; did they lose faith in Jehovah?
The death of her husband; was this the cost of their unfaithfulness?
Her sons marrying foreign women; not Naomi’s choice.
Ten years of unfruitful marriage; again, a punishment?
Years of pain, sorrow, and irretrievable loss.
The result? Strength and beauty turned to sorrow.
Naomi cannot bear to spread her deserved curse from Jehovah onto these faithful young women.
“I’m going with you,” Ruth rises and moves to stand protectively over her Mother-in-law.
“Don’t leave me,” Orpah cries, “I can’t bear losing you too!” The vision of Chilion’s cold form descending into the grave is too clear, the loss too new.
“No!” The older woman rises to her full form for the first time in months. “I cannot allow you to waste anymore of your lives.” Her voice cracks.
Responsibility for her Daughters-in-law weighs heavy. Pushing her shoulders back, she continues. “I will not see you affected for another minute by my punishment from Jehovah. You must return to your mother’s homes.”
Ruth steps toward her, arms open. Naomi manoeuvres away. Orpah quietly sobs.
As the older woman begins to pack Ruth stands still and looks up. Is this really how it’s going to end?
Orpah slowly gets up and helps Naomi gather their merger belongings. Soon the trio is on their way. They reach the crossroads.
“You’ve come far enough. Now is the time to part. Return to your mother’s home; to your own people. May Jehovah grant you new husbands to care for you as you have cared for me.”
Orpah and Ruth raise their voices as one, “No! Please don’t leave us!”
Naomi gently pushes them away. “I have no husband. I have no sons. Even if I got married again and had more sons you can’t wait that long. Please don’t waste your lives with a broken down old woman like me.” She reaches for them, kissing them, releasing them with what blessing she can provide.
Orpah clings for a time and then slips away. Ruth clings tighter and tighter.
“Please don’t make me go,” she sobs, “You are my family. You are my family. You are my family.” Naomi allows tears to flow.
“Please mother,” Ruth continues, “I will go with you, die with you, be buried with you. You are my family and your God is my God.”
Naomi relents. She and Ruth continue on the road to Judah. A small ray of hope begins to shine in Naomi’s heart. She’s not alone. Maybe Jehovah’s anger has run it’s course.
Ruth gently relieves Naomi of the bags. She shoulders the burden. Losing Mahlon was unbearable enough. She couldn’t face losing Naomi as well. She longs to know more of this Jehovah. He is so unlike Chemosh, the blood thirsty god of her people. As her face turns toward Judah, Ruth takes Naomi’s hand and smiles.
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Nicely done.
God Bless~