Travis didn’t know how he talked her daddy into letting him marry her, but he did. They packed Ruth’s few belongings, she said goodbye to her family, and they headed home, back to Travis’s grandparents’ house.

Ruth fit into the small family like she had been there all along. Travis made up the work he’d missed, and he did it happily with his newfound love by his side. She worked hard too, with a joyful spirit. They were a match in every way.

Ruth enjoyed listening to Travis sing as he worked. It made the long days easier. She’d never met a man so inwardly happy or so gentle. Travis was fast to pick up new ideas and could quickly figure out the best way to accomplish what he wanted. His mind was sharp, and his spirit was grateful for all he was given.

It was a hard life in the mountains, but there was no point in fussing about what couldn’t be changed. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’” (Philippians 2:14-15a) No matter how many things went wrong, he held his anger in check and kept his words gentle. She had caught a prince, and she knew it.

I will sing about your loving-kindness and your justice, Lord. I will sing your praises! I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should. Help me to refuse the low and vulgar things; help me to abhor all crooked deals of every kind, to have no part in them. I will reject all selfishness and stay away from every evil. I will not tolerate anyone who secretly slanders his neighbors; I will not permit conceit and pride. I will make the godly of the land my heroes and invite them to my home. Only those who are truly good shall be my servants. But I will not allow those who deceive and lie to stay in my house. My daily task will be to ferret out criminals and free the city of God from their grip. — Psalm 101:1-8