But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Ruth 1:16 (ESV)

They invaded the beach chairs set up next to ours – colorful birds chattering in their songbird voices. Five or six of them in their 20’s, a couple of youthful grandmothers, and a handful of babies and toddlers in tow. 

Their laughter filled the air and spilled over into our ears as they set up additional umbrellas and a baby tent and quickly dug a small pool into the sand and filled it with the clear water of the gulf for the contentment of their young ones.

“Cousins?” we wondered. “Sisters? Best friends?” Their kindness to each other was fascinating. Their attentiveness to the children so seamless that the parentage was impossible to discern.

These were women elevated. Loving, joyful, caring, serving, laughing, gentle and tender and affectionate. What drew their bond around them and through them so tightly, so firmly?

They were wounded by love lost: two among them widowed by the sudden death of husbands. The youngest baby still in his mother’s womb when his father’s heart ceased to beat one dark night.

Widows. And so they closed in tight, these women. They stood their ground and locked their arms together and lifted each other up. They knew too well what could so easily be lost and so they guarded each other carefully, closely.

“I am fighting with you”, their laughter reassured. “You are not alone. I will hold your child. I will dry your tears. I will be silly and tender and remind you to laugh and lift your face to the sun. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Question: Do you have a tight circle of women who hold you in their arms? Thank God for them. Tell me about them. 

There are two songs that speak to me here. One, ‘Female’ written by Shane McAnally, Nicolle Galyon and Ross Copperman and beautifully, stunningly, tenderly performed by Keith Urban at the 51st annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8BhbOqgTAI

https://www.npr.org/2017/11/12/563606325/the-songwriter-behind-keith-urbans-female

The other, ‘I Will Follow You’. Written by songwriters Chris Tomlin / Jason Ingram / Ruben Morgan.

Scripture is fromEnglish Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.