Mother-In-Law

Over the course of your life, you will put on many hats.  I like to refer to this more as slipping on many pairs of shoes.  Initially we start off life wearing our “baby” shoes.  It is during those first few formidable years, we become known to someone as “friend” and we start learning how to walk in someone else’s.  We will wear the comfy shoes of cousin, classmate, or neighbor.  Then the romantic shoes of fiance, husband, or wife.

There are some less comfortable shoes like the shoes of co-worker, or supervisor, but no shoes have the potential to pinch like putting on the “In-Law” shoes.   You guessed it – I am now a Mother-in-law.  I have very recently put on those shoes, and boy are they big shoes to fill.  So I am thinking of going back to the story of Naomi and Ruth.  Even though mine is a son-in-law, I’m thinking there HAS TO be some grains of truth as to how Naomi and Ruth developed such a loving in-law relationship.  Particularly how Naomi related to Ruth.

A few days ago, Chris- in his loving wisdom- pointed out that you can rearrange the letters in the word “Mother-in Law” to spell “Woman Hitler”.   OK.  That can be funny, but it did give me food for thought.  In all relationships, there is a potential to build up – like Naomi – or to tear down.  So with all the wisdom God will give me I start down this road in my new shoes resting in the promise that His grace will be sufficient – even for me.