Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Proverbs 17:17 (05/25/23)
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TITLE: Ruth and Naomi, a Drama | Previous Challenge Entry
By Laurie Kiel
06/01/23 -
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OFFSTAGE VOICE
In the book of Ruth
We find a lot of truth
About friendship
A friendship
Between two women
One young
And one old
A friendship
With a value
More precious than gold.
(WHEN ONE WOMAN SPEAKS THE OTHER WOMAN BOWS HER HEAD AND FREEZES)
NAOMI SPEAKS
Friends.
Who needs them?
I don’t need any friends. I’m
I don’t need any family.
I can get along just fine by myself.
And that’s what I told myself the day that I was preparing to return to Bethlehem alone. No husband, no sons, no friends. I was tough. I could do it.
And if I kept telling myself that enough times maybe I would start to believe it.
I urged those dear girls to go back to Moab. They had no future in Bethlehem. No husbands, no prospect of husbands. There was only one thing that I could do if I was really their friend. Let them go.
There goes Orpah. I thought maybe she would fight a little harder to stay with me. So much for friendship. I’m sure Ruth will follow along behind her.
And I will be
Alone.
RUTH SPEAKS
Go home? Naomi wants me to go home? But I AM home. In Moab, women were just out for themselves. Other women weren’t our friends, they were our competitors. They would stab you in the back in a minute if they thought it would give them higher status. And that’s not a metaphor.
I have never met anyone like Naomi. She’s the mother I never had. She’s the friend I never had. Orpah and I were never that close. I don’t think she even looked over her shoulder at us as she headed back to Moab. Except perhaps to roll her eyes at me.
I cannot, I will not let Naomi go back to Bethlehem alone. Yahweh, give me the words to tell her.
“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
Ruth 1:16-17 NIV
NAOMI SPEAKS
When Ruth and I went back to Bethlehem, I told the townsfolk to call me Mara, not Naomi. Why should they call me Naomi. That name is a lie. It means pleasantness. Call me Mara, bitter, for the Lord has made my life so bitter, so empty. I left Bethlehem, full, full of family, and I came back empty.
Alone.
RUTH SPEAKS
It hurt my heart to hear Naomi describe her life as empty, with me at her side. But I understood. Isn’t that what a friend does, understand when her friend spits out savage words, Born of hurt. Born of fear. It just showed me that I had done the right thing, not to leave Naomi
Alone.
NAOMI SPEAKS
What did I ever do to deserve the friendship of sweet Ruth. I must admit I have never been happier to have someone ignore my commands. What would I have done, had she followed my urging? I don’t want to think about that. She’s always thinking about me, my welfare.
Time for me to do some giving in this relationship. Giving of advice. I know, I know, some of you think that’s not much of a gift. But after all, I’m a mother-in-law that’s my job. No. That’s not right.
I’m Ruth’s friend. I need to have her set for the future. I won’t live forever. And I don’t want Ruth left in Bethlehem
Alone
RUTH SPEAKS
I cannot believe Naomi’s advice worked! Oh Jehovah, to think I found a husband here in Bethlehem. With Boaz as my husband, you as my God, and Naomi as my friend I never need to fear being
Alone
NAOMI SPEAKS
My precious Ruth, her wonderful Boaz, and blessing of blessings, a beautiful grandchild. I thought I had returned to Bethlehem empty, but the Lord has made me full. Full of friendship.
Friends who needs them?
RUTH AND NAOMI JOIN HANDS AND SAY
We do
A friendship
Between two women
One young (JUST RUTH SPEAKS)
And one old (JUST NAOMI)
A friendship
With a value
More precious than gold.
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