There once was a woman of age twenty-three
Her name was the fair name of Ruth
With fervor she served her Good Father above
She trusted in Him and his Truth
In college she worked three hard jobs at a time
Her fingers she wore to the bone
She labored to keep all her grades at an A
In sorrow she felt all alone
She wanted a husband, she wanted his love
She ached to be in his embrace
But God had not brought her the man that she craved
Nor did He reveal the man’s face
For three more long years she worked towards her degree
And finally her task was complete
Diploma in hand and her vigor renewed
She strode to take on greater feats
She worked in her job and she loved what she did
And still she felt such a great void
The love that she wanted had not been revealed
Her sorrow she could not avoid
She saw all her friends being married away
The wed and they left her alone
She felt so unwanted, she felt so unloved
In sadness she sobbed and she groaned
In one of these weddings a bridesmaid she stood
God works in mysterious ways
An elderly lady looked on her sad eyes
And for this fair maiden she prayed
So Ruth worked and labored for her dearest King
She ached for the love that she sought
She worked in her church, she did all that she could
Yet still her void filled every thought
Then one day in May, on a Sunday it was
An elderly voice called her name
“Come now dearest darlin’, let’s sit and let’s talk
You must stop with this cruelest game”
“It hurts this old woman to see your fair eyes
Be dimmed by the sorrow you feel
You must look to Jesus, the one perfect Man
And then your sad heart will be healed”
“Christ loved you when you never loved Jesus back
Pursuing, He called your fair name
With mercy he brought you in safe to His arms
He called you and your soul He claimed”
“He loves you more than you can love Him e’er back
All that you go through’s for your good
You’re called to be single right now where you are
You’re called to do all that you should”
“Don’t fret fairest darling that you don’t have love
A husband with whom you can live
For you have a Savior who is your First Love
He mercy to you freely gives”
With tears in her eyes, Ruth thanked her for her words
The old lady smiled and left
Then Ruth sat and pondered what she had just heard
And thanked God for His Greatest Gift
With new-found contentment, fair Ruth persevered
With joy found in Christ she did live
She still wanted marriage and still wanted love
But now for God’s will she did live
So for two more years she did all that she could
To live for her God and her King
Her life was a praise song to Jesus her Lord
Her outlook a song she could sing
And though it was hard to at times be content
And though sometimes hard to trust God
Ruth persevered through it by God’s Precious Grace
With thankfulness she through her life trod
Then one day at church a young man caught her eyes
A man who seemed ‘round twenty-eight
He strode to where she sat as she ate her lunch
He sat and with her he then ate
They met and they talked and they liked what they saw
Both inwardly knew this could be
A something both special and great to behold
A something that’s glorious to see
The following months were a time new to them
For both had been ever alone
But love was beginning, the fresh spring was now here
The winds of a change had now come
But both took their time, for they knew what love was
A thing to preserve and protect
For they had been kept from the thing that they craved
And now precious love was beget
They both persevered until God’s time was ripe
Contentment was their tool to use
But as apples ripen, their time fin’lly came
And both told their parents the news
The day finally came that Ruth dreamed ever of
She walked down the aisle in her dress
It now was her time to be wed to her man
And Ruth knew she was greatly blessed
The wedding flew by as Ruth’s head swam around
The feelings were ever intense
But then her eyes focused and she saw in the crowd
The elderly woman God sent
Ruth’s eyes were no longer the sad eyes of gloom
They were when she dwelt in the night
With tears in these eyes Ruth thanked her with a look
Then with them she gazed at her knight
The Lord in His mercy had taught Ruth a thing
A lesson both simple and sweet
That to persevere one must be e’er content
And trust Him who’s our Mercy Seat
So when you’re discouraged and feel so alone
Remember God loves you His own
You’re put where you are and He knows what you need
For God rules and loves from His Throne