First Mercy Then Grace

All she could think about all evening was how it would be to have more children in their house.  As she put the girls to bed the same thoughts were still in her mind as she had so much love to give these children she couldn’t even explain it.  As she tucked them in Martha said, “Mommy, why are you so quiet?  Are you sick?”  “Oh no”, Ruth answered back, “I am not sick.  I am just thinking about how wonderful you both are and how great it would be to have more children in this big house.”

Now Martha too was quiet pondering all that she just heard.  Most of this was way too complicated for Rachel who was just waiting to say her bedtime prayer.  “Let’s say our prayers now, OK?” Ruth suggested.  And, so the two girls began to pray, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.  If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”  Each and every time Ruth heard these two little ones pray that prayer, she felt the comfort in knowing that the Lord had taken care of her little ones who didn’t make it into this world.  What a fitting reminder to have this special prayer recited each and every evening by her two young daughters.

When Ruth lost her first baby the Lord was merciful and helped her deal with the loss by bringing her comfort and peace in the knowledge that He is a merciful God.  She felt certain her baby was with the Lord.  He then showed his powerful grace by giving her Martha, whose birth gave her great joy.  God was again merciful when she lost her second baby and again through prayer she was able to cope.  Without God’s never-ending mercy, she didn’t know how she would have been able to endure a second loss. 

When Rachel arrived the grace of God showed vividly in her life once more.  After Rachel was born they were uncertain about becoming pregnant again but, they so wanted a son to compliment their family.  After much prayer they decided to try one more time with the hope that the Lord would bless them with a son.  When their third loss came both Ruth and Samuel knew they dare not try another time.  They had no desire to see another life ended and the risk was too high.  How would God, after that final loss when perhaps they shouldn’t have tried, be able to show his grace yet again?  That was their ongoing question and only through God’s mercy were they able to accept their fate. 

As Ruth watched her two daughters fall to a sleep, she wondered if the gift of having foster children was God’s new act of grace.  Her faith was strong and both she and Samuel were willing to take in these unknown children. She was certain they were in need of the love and kindness both she and Samuel were capable of giving.  Although their lives together were full of struggles, she knew when they put their lives into God’s hands the outcome was first mercy then grace.