Turning the Corner

In the opening scene of the book of Ruth, Naomi is driven by famine from her homeland, loses her husband and her only children, and finally wanders back to Israel having experienced profound spiritual disillusionment. She renamed herself “Mara” because it means “Bitter” and, in her own words, “The Almighty has made my life bitter” (Ruth 1:20).

But then Ruth keeps doing justice by her, showing kindness to her, and risking her neck to provide for Naomi. And finally all the goodness finally breaks through. After Ruth returns with a miraculous haul of grain from the harvest, and with the recognition that there was a distant family member out there (Boaz) who was bent on helping as well, Naomi turns a corner. She recovers some hope, she melts into gratitude, and she becomes the blesser once again (as she was towards Ruth early on). Listen in on the change:

Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!” Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said. “The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. - Ruth 2:19-20

Where have you experienced a piling on of blessings in some area of your life that just begs for gratitude and blessing in return? Perhaps it’s not a big area (like being done with quarantine and the epidemic!) but think through different relationships or health issues or spiritual connections or work breakthroughs or even home projects. Can you turn a corner into blessing today?