Ruth 1:1-18, Grieving Together

Observation: Naomi's husband, Elimelech, and both of her sons, Mahlon and Chilion, have died. She is deep in grief, and she wants to go back to Bethlehem, where she was raised, and where there is reported to be enough food for everyone. Her former daughters-in-law, both Moabites (traditional enemies of Israel) want to go with her. Naomi tries to send them off to find new husbands. Orpah goes. Ruth stays, and says "Where you go I will go, where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God."

Application: I've heard before that "joy shared is joy multiplied, but grief shared is grief divided." When bad things happen, sometimes our instinct is to pull away, like Naomi is trying to do. To isolate ourselves from others. Ruth won't let that happen. She knows she and Naomi need each other, to share the burden of what has happened. Even though they are from profoundly different cultures, Ruth binds herself to Naomi, who knows what it's like to lose a husband. Any walls that Naomi's grief builds up, Ruth's love and faithfulness tear down. May we all be blessed with at least one person persistent enough to love us even when we've forgotten how to accept love.

Prayer: God, like Ruth to Naomi, you cling to us. Help us look to those different from us and find shared concerns, shared experiences, shared love. Amen.