Ruth and Her Family

Ruth 1-4

Our story comes from the Bible. It is found in the book, or part, of the Bible called Ruth. This book is named after one of the people in our story.

The Bible tells us about a woman named Ruth. Ruth lived in Moab.


Ruth had a very small family. She lived with an older woman named Naomi. Ruth love Naomi, who was like a mother to her.


Ruth had been married to Naomi’s son. When he died, Ruth stayed and took good care of Naomi.


Naomi thought it would be better to move back to Bethlehem, where she was born. Ruth went with Naomi. She left her home in Moab and moved with Naomi to Bethlehem.


One day, Ruth went to the grain fields. Wheat is one kind of grain. Rice is another. Grain is used to make food. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. The workers were cutting down the grain. It was time to gather the grain for food. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh went the tools.


Ruth followed the workers. She picked up the leftover gain that the workers had missed. Ruth took the grain home. She used the grain to make bread for her and Naomi to eat.


A man name Boaz owned the field and all the grain. One day, he came to the field. He asked the workers, “Who is that young woman?”


The workers told him, “She is Ruth. She lives with Naomi.”


Boaz told the workers, “Give Ruth some more grain.”


Ruth thanked Boaz. Naomi and Ruth would have plenty to eat.


Every day, the workers cut the grain. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Every day, Ruth followed the workers and picked up the leftover grain.


One day, Boaz came back to the field to see Ruth.


Later, Boaz married Ruth. Then Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz all lived together in one house. They were a happy family.


Later, Ruth and Boaz had a baby boy. They named the baby boy Obed.


Now Ruth was a mommy. Boaz was a daddy. And Naomi was a grandmother.


The people in Ruth’s family cared for one another. People in families care for one another.


Bible Paraphrase: Love one another. (“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – John 13:34 NIV)

Text Truth: People in families care for one another.




Family Devotional


But Ruth replied, “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

Ruth demonstrated her loyalty to Naomi in choosing to follow Naomi to a foreign land and placing herself in difficult situations to help provide for her.

Loyalty involves commitment and faithfulness. It strengthens the ties that bind individuals together in families.


Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. — Ruth 2:11

Boaz was impressed with Ruth's loyalty. We read later that the Lord did indeed bless Ruth and Naomi.


So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. — Ruth 4:13-17


You have the opportunity to teach your preschooler how to care for others, the way Ruth cared for Naomi.


Activities You Can Do at Home



Bible Rhyme

The Bible paraphrase is in the last line of the rhyme. Teach the words and actions a line at a time. Have your child repeat each line back to you.

God made me.
(Point to self.)
God made you.
(Point to someone else.)
God made my family, too!
(Hug self.)
God loves me.
(Point to self.)
God loves you.
(Point to someone.)
He said, "Love one another," too.
(Open arms wide.)



Bedtime is Special

Make bedtime a special time for the whole family. Read from a Bible storybook, pray together, talk about daily events, take time for an extra hug and kiss. These quiet moments will make lasting memories for your family. 


Go to the Market

This week, take your child to a farmer's market or grocery store to help you pick fresh food for your family the way Ruth gathered grain for Naomi. If any older members of your family live nearby, invite them to come along. They may have stories of times when they planted gardens or prepared food. 


Learn How to Care

Help your child learn how he can care for people in your family. Explain how picking up toys, setting the table, or playing nicely with a brother or sister show care and make your home a pleasant place.


Tell the Bible Story

Tell the Bible story using plastic people. Start with one girl for Ruth and then add Naomi, Boaz, and Obed as each are mentioned in the story. 



Pray and Talk about Care 


Thank God for the all the special ways people in your family care for others in your family. Ask your child: Who in our family showed you care today? How did Mommy care for you? Affirm the care given. Lead conversation on the words to pray that would thank God for Mommy and her care. Decide who prays first and second. Then pray aloud. Keep in mind, children learn from your model.


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The illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported license. www.freebibleimages.org
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