Gleaning

This week I am playing the part of Naomi and Brooke is Ruth. Both our husbands are out of town for 5 days. They are not with each other, it is just coincidental that their work should take them away from their families at the same time.

The Naomi - Ruth connection began on Monday when our husbands left town. It continued on Tue. when Brooke came over for dinner. She called early in the day and asked if she could bring dinner!! "How fitting" I thought. Ruth was bringing food to Naomi.

Then today was the gleaning (only I, the Naomi, was the one doing the work). This was fine with me. It was reminiscent of years gone by. Gleaning was something I did many times when the kids were little but hadn't done in several years. Alina recently reminded me of the cranberry harvesting and how after the harvesters left the bogs we returned to glean. Those were good times as we gathered up the remaining cranberries and froze them for holiday baking.

So today I decided to venture off to glean the fields again. Only this time I was alone. No little ones. It takes a lot longer getting a bucket full without my little helpers, but it was a good time for me to be alone with the Lord, in the fresh air gleaning. I may be a Naomi, without a husband this week, but I am far from bitter.

As I was picking the berries, I was thanking God for His many kindnesses to me. Not only do I have a Ruth (Brooke) who served me dinner last evening, but I have three other daughters who excel in many ways, especially in their love for God, their families and their church. I am rich indeed. I had no reason to feel poor (as were the gleaners in Bible times). I am feeling absolutely stunned by the lavish blessings from God.

Now I have something to share with my Ruth (and her sisters). I think I'll go bake something.