Don't Call Me Naomi

At a glance, the book of Ruth is about a young woman who triumphs over tragedy and transitions through many trials to become one in the line of ancestors of Jesus Christ. But you first meet Naomi whose life's circumstances and situations leave her feeling bitter. So much so that she attempts to change her name to fit her feelings. Naomi's name means Pleasant, so with the statement "Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara" she attempts to identify with her pain, as Mara means bitter. The stories of these two women are not much different than some of our own, but changing our identities will not change our destinies. By paralleling the stories of these two women with my own as well as some familiar to you, Don't Call Me Naomi shows how together through love; relations, restoration and redemption are all possible. Tyral Thompson, licensed minister, writer and developer of Ministry Operating Guidelines, Ministry Development Packets, Workshop Curriculum and Vacation Bible School curriculum for Children's Ministries. She is inspired to write for other women, to share her experiences and offer insight on women's rightful and intended positions in the world through the Word of God. She is a mother of four and is known as an inspiration to the many lives she touches.