But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head. He did it even though Ephraim was the younger son. He crossed his arms and put his left hand on Manasseh’s head. He did it even though Manasseh was the older son. -Genesis 48:14, NIRV
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Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner? -Ruth 2:10, NIV As Ruth kept reading the newspaper, Holden forced himself to remember her. Something from her look was different...ethereal...unique. And not that old-people, gray hair unique that people are worrying to have when they hit old age. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”, he asked to the old Ruth. “Why, yes, my dear”, she responded. It was right too early for an elderly woman to travel across town in a train, so Holden's gesture was very much appreiated. For a moment, Ruth kept chuckling, and that lifted Holden's spirits in some sort of way. Stop #1 became her first job at a Jewish deli. Stop #2, the dry cleaners close to her best friend's apartment. Stop #3, the beauty shop they gunned down a couple of times because it became a meth lab at night. Stop #4, the junior college she began studying when she gave up working menial jobs and minimum wage. And 5 and 6 and 7 and 8. But nine... she never dared. In some sort of way, she remembered the first time she arrived to this city. Broken, poor, young and widowed, with no one to share the rest of her life with. A beautiful woman, but scorned and scarred by life. There was a dream she had to follow whatever the cost. And of course, no one understood her, they thought she was crazy and impulsive and stupid and still depressed. On the first eve of her husband's passing, Ruth couldn't handle the pain. She didn't have any money for the landlord, much less a shrink. Depression mixed in with copious quantities of Johnny Walker and Rohypnol -not very classy. Ruth felt blinded...fragil...alone. The only thing between her and death was a knife and David Letterman. And not even Letterman could feel her pain every time he said, “Well, earlier in the day...” Her face ran every time she took a swig of whiskey with a hand-picked pill from the counter. (At least, it'll hurt, but not that hard!) Come 11:30, 11:45, 11:55...nothing. Looks like she either had no remedy: either the whiskey was doing too much, or it was time to end it with blood. Ruth took a knife from the kitchen top. She quietly sat on the floor, looking at the cracked ceiling filled with termites in heat. Her head rested on a pillow, her pillow smoothened on the side. And Ruth continued playing with the knife, crying on a pillow, saying, “It's too late for me, it's too late for me, it's too late for me.” With a strike to her gut, she played with the force. May she rest in-- Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong! “Miss Ruth, Miss Ruth, Miss Ruth! We need your help!” To Be Continued...
Distress and anguish fill him with terror; troubles overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack, because he shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the Almighty, defiantly charging against him with a thick, strong shield. -Job 15: 24-26, NIV I will certainly go with you, but you should know from the beginning that this battle will not lead to your personal glory. The Eternal has decreed that the mighty Sisera will be defeated by a woman. -Judges 4:8, VOICE The east wind carries them away, and they are gone. It sweeps them away. It whirls down on them without mercy. They struggle to flee from its power. -Job 27:22 & 23, NIV (In honor of Redemption Month in My Life in You, I decided to post something I originally premiered on November 29, 2011. Originally titled, "Will You Hold Yourself Back?".) Once again, man could open the windows of their home and smell the fresh air.
For the first time in a while, man could smile and say, “I feel free! I’m so alive!”. Someone could smile and at least say “Hi” to their brother –without a dagger stuck on their backs. Pets could finally mind their own business, and people wouldn’t try and secretly attempt to murder them (and owners we so responsible to clean up after them!) Everyone had a home, everyone had food, everyone had a smile. |
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