Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Ruth 2:10 -- On Strangers and Love

"Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?"
Ruth 2:10


This is from the story of Ruth and Boaz, when Ruth was gleaning leftovers in his field in order to support herself and her mother in law.  The fact that she is so grateful here and asks him why he is treating her so well is interesting, and seems to indicate that then, as now, people weren't always welcoming of immigrants and strangers.

I think that we all feel, at times, as Ruth did.  We are lost in an unfamiliar context and desperately grateful when people take mercy on us and welcome us in.  New places, new schools, new jobs, and even new health situations or new ideas are really hard sometimes to adjust to.  People who welcome us and help us through our adjustment seem like life preservers thrown to us just as we were starting to realize we were in over our heads.  Timely, and needed.

Luckily, we also all have the opportunity to be like Boaz as well, and help and comfort and lift people who are struggling--welcoming them and sharing our experience and kindness.

Today, let's remember that we are all strangers sometimes, and let's welcome and care for each other, as we strive to love as God does.

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