Lent and Relationships #3: Speak Kindly
There is a quirky story in the Old Testament about a war between the Gileadites and the Ephraimites where the one tribe could be identified from the other by their pronunciation of the word "Shibboleth." One tribe said "Sibboleth" while the other said "Shibboleth." If you said "Sibboleth" at the border-post it got you killed!In relationships our language and accents also have great power to heal or to harm. While the OT book of Ruth is about an unlikely romance between an Israelite man and a Moabite woman, it is important to emphasize that before there is romance there is kindness.
Ruth had taken huge risks to stay with her mother-in-law:
- She'd left her home country
- She was living as a poor refugee
- She was living among people known for their nationalistic pride
When Boaz spots her, there is immediate interest from his side, and he shares his lunch with her and has a very caring conversation with her. He speaks affirming and gentle words to her, connecting with her sacrifices, commending her for her faithfulness and pronouncing blessing on her life. His one-to-one appreciation and sensitivity does a great deal for her.There are times where a good face to face connection with important people in our lives is very valuable. Ruth's response says it all. Boaz has filled her tank!
Maybe you need to take time with a spouse, child, colleague or team-member and have a care-full conversation.
It can mean a great deal.
| So Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled." 10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me--a foreigner?" 11 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. 12 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." 13 "May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord," she said. "You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant--though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls." (Ruth2:8-13) |
