Ruth in reverse

Ruth

(in reverse)

I met this lady in 2009; I was between situations as my last relationship crashed and burned. I provided the match to a known volatile situation. It would take years for this distant friendship to develop into a relationship and then a marriage. At that time, I was emotionally compromised. I found myself in a spot that handled a need for companionship but did not quite make the cut for a relationship. That is the beginning of this story.

  The acquaintance became a friendship, which in turn grew into a relationship and a marriage. We both had issues that needed resolution. We were married at my home and started being a family.  Now she had two daughters; one had children that were doing fine. The other had challenges.  She, like me, had previous situations, and those situations placed stress on her and her mom. Her sons two and then a third. Hit me in this special place in my heart.  I am keen on the concept of raising productive and well-adjusted men, and their situation at that time was not advantageous to that end. I, at that point, was the Patriarch of that portion of the family. I am looked up to for counsel and advice.  Two relationships did not go as well as could be expected.    While remaining in the leadership position, I noticed that the other people in this situation with her were not as invested in the young men as they were in her. (love me love my kids) one of these men was the father of two of my grandsons. (that is another story for another day long from now) The daughter was industriously receiving a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree and was working diligently to make a home for her and the boys. Striking out on her own, she started a new career in the city of Columbus, OH.

 I was closing in on Civil Service retirement as I had already retired from the United States Air Force. That is 38 years in federal service in one way or another.  Plan A move to a different location and start a humble existence living with my bride and visiting the grandkids when appropriate. Plan B move into proximity of the Grandchildren of one parent or another and set up a new life being retired. Neither one of these worked as planned. I am in the process of selling the house, getting another job after I retire from civil service, and moving to be in close to the grandsons in their location. Yes, Columbus, OH.  At this point, Ruth, in reverse, comes into play. Instead of Ruth following Boaz, Boaz is following Ruth as she wants to stay involved in the grandchildren’s life.  What I have not told (which is another story) is that I, in my lowest moment, prayed for another chance to be the parent that I was meant to be. This prayer had the full chorus of crying, despair, and the requisite amount of repentance, as I was sincere in wanting to be better at being the mentor, I longed to be.  I am weeks away from the moving vans truck haulers and airline flights that will take me to where my wife and daughter reside The wife having relocated there in April of this year for me to prepare for the sale of my home.  My daughter has found an individual that wishes for the same things that I want for the boys. In a surprise move, he flew here and stayed with me for two weeks doing the heavy lifting that was instrumental in my receipt of a full price offer on my present home. I am now in the process of acquiring a home in Columbus, OH.

Additionally,  area and have an offer on the table for a new home.  This home will be the residence of all the members of this new merry band of nomads seeking a place to call home I could not leave three young men to the wolves of society without being there to assist them.  I told the young man that I am not his dad; however, I offer the benefits of my previous mistakes and mentorship in the future.  

Ruth 1:16 She answered: Be not against me, to desire that I should leave thee and depart: for whithersoever thou shalt go, I will go: and where thou shalt dwell, I also will dwell. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.