Rainy Day Ramblings

Rain, rain, rain. It has settled in for the past few days and overstayed its welcome. I love a good rain, but the yucky mist and 30 degree temps have got to go! Today was officially my last day to have patients in the psychiatric nursing clinical rotation {commence hallelujah chorus}.

Today, I'm hanging out with sweet Ruth. Ruth is one of my absolute favorite characters in the Bible! The story of Ruth has so many applications to my life. It is a beautiful love story, which you know gets to my heart every time. This gal is a romantic to the core.

Ruth is a lady of virtue - Hers is a story of grace in the midst of great suffering. 

{If you haven't read this little book, go do it!}

Ruth chapter 2 is a story of the young women Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi. I won't go through all of the story but at this point, Naomi's son/Ruth's husband has died and these two women have moved to Bethlehem. Ruth is a young and energetic but at this time in her life she is having to grieve over the recent loss of her husband while also moving on with her life.  My, what a woman! It is so evident that the Lord has healed her heart for a specific reason. Ruth overcomes affliction with grace. She is diligent to the promises she made to be part of a family when she married her deceased husband. It is here I stop and look closely at the commitment this woman made when she said, "I do" - It was a commitment that overcame death, grief and sorrow. I have never experienced such loss but to me, this is an incredible, super natural strength she was given!

Ruth is now responsible. Responsible for caring for her family. An example of true religion, she loves and cares for this woman. God has given her a task, collect food. It may seem small, but God has given this task and God wants all of the glory - from what will come of this and from the actual, seemingly senseless task. That is so applicable to my daily life - Some tasks seem so small and even petty and I will admit they are often met with complaints when they could be used to give glory to God! Ultimately, this is a need for a change in attitude on my part. Glory to God does not have to be elaborate, it is simple and pure.

Fast forward a few days in this story, Ruth has found that she could collect the leftover wheat because it was a time of harvest when they arrived in the land {a true blessing from God}. Naomi had a relative named Boaz {such a great name} and this is where my favorite part of this story begins! 

A woman of this character, this kindness, this spirit can be seen from afar. But lets not forget Boaz, his true character and faith was seen up close - His workers were prayed for, they were blessed and respected - in return, they were diligent, prosperous and faithful to their master and to one another. 

So here we are, Boaz's workers have collected their portion and Ruth is now in the field, collecting the left over portion. {Coincidence? I think not} Boaz sees Ruth, he watches her from a distance. Boaz sees that spirit I mentioned earlier. He sees that she is humble, tenacious and loving. I have no doubt in my mind that Boaz prayed for Ruth. He was kind to Ruth, just as the Lord is kind to us. Boaz was a Christ-like figure to this young woman.

 I absolutely love the hearts of these two people, they are pure and gracious. But lets not forget, this was not a perfect love story - Ruth had experienced unimaginable grief but the Lord did not leave her. He was faithful to her and he healed her heart. When the time was right, these two young people were united in a relationship that brought glory and praise to the name of Jesus. 

True beauty. Christ-centered love. Glorious honor. 

"But Boaz answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!" 
Ruth 2: 11-12

Emphasis added.