This book is beautiful. Just beautiful. Why aren't kids reading this in school, instead of the rubbish that's handed out instead? Seriously!
Ruth is a story about a young woman that has an illegitimate child in the 1800's. At that time, women that became pregnant out of wedlock were most often forced into horrible situations while the men had little, if any, accountability. It was very common for those that made mistakes or sinned in ways that couldn't be hidden and were made public knowledge to be shunned and kicked aside. Never mind that it was very hypocritical of society to do so, illegitimate children were the perfect example of this hypocrisy. It takes two to make a baby, but only the woman visibly carries it. We all make mistakes and are in need of kindness and mercy the most at those times. Just because one person's faults were visible and another's were not doesn't make them holier.
This story is about what would happen if someone in those circumstances had support to help guide them back to a good, God-fearing life instead of being cast aside to fall into worse sin and lifestyle. Ruth goes on to bring light into many lives through her goodness and selflessness. But even if she hadn't, even if the only two souls brought back to the light had been her own and her son's - wouldn't that be enough?
These are lessons that still need to be taken to heart and applied in today's world. Though the reason for casting off those we feel are beneath us may be different and the circumstances of how they are cast off changed, it still happens. And it still shouldn't.
