Árdís - 01.01.1964, Page 19

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
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publicly declared that the Moabitess Ruth, the widow, was to be-
come his wife. And thus it came about that Ruth, the despised
foreigner, the destitute widow became the bride of the rich land-
owner Boaz.
From this marriage of Ruth and Boaz sprang an auspicious
lineage, the House of David. Naomi was rewarded for her toler-
ance and goodness to her daughter-in-law, and spent many happy
years nursing her grandchild Obed.
This in short is the story of Ruth, but, I would like to leave
with you a few thoughts, because I feel that the Book of Ruth
has a message for us, the women of today.
“Whither thou goest I will go, your people shall be my people,
your God my God”. Can you imagine any woman in this day and
age saying words like these to a mother-in-law? In our present day
society the mother-in-law is looked upon as some kind of a monster.
She is held up to ridicule, and made the scape-goat when things
go wrong in many marriages. We of course all know, that mothers-
in-law are as different as people are different, but, every mother
wants only what is best for her child. Society would do well if,
instead of ridicule and criticism, thereby teaching the young people
to hold their in-laws in contempt, they would teach them to honor
and respect them.
I think many a young couple would be glad to take the advice
of parents and in-laws, if they were not afraid of being ridiculed
by their friends and neighbours. I happened to hear a conversation
between a young wife and a middle-aged woman the other day.
The young one said: “I like my mother-in-law. We do not always
agree on everything, but we get along fine, and she has helped us
in so many ways”. “But my dear”, said the other one, “that is im-
possible! You really should stay away from your in-laws, they
always want to be bossing you around.” The girl just said, “Well,
I still like her.” Ideas such as these can be very harmful, and when
they come to the young people from all directions: radio, TV and
even marriage counsellors, they come to be the accepted conclusion,
and gradually destroy family life as we know it can be. “Honour
your father and mother” has been an accepted commandment up
to now, but it seems as if it should read “Honour them only until
you marry—after that, their love and counselling can only harm