Grace and Obedience

I have spent the past week filling out job applications, going to a workshop, for 'displaced workers', writing resumes, in the hope of securing a job. I just want to pay my bills. In a slumped  economy, with no 'skills' by the worlds standards, it looks bleak. But I know the One who spins the universe, a job for a widow is no big deal for Him. I must admit, my attitude and my faith have not always shown that I know the Lord has it all under control. I have tears, frustration, more tears, rejection, more tears, roadblocks...this has been really hard. Really hard.

How hard it must have been for Ruth to be in a foreign land, of a curse people, and a widow, that's 3 strikes against her. Yet, she forsook her pagan past, chose to follow Jehovah, and obviously found favor in Naomi's eye to be allowed to stay with her and go to Bethlehem. Ruth was there by grace.

Ruth needs to find a field to glean in to provide for Naomi and herself. I am sure that Naomi would have told Ruth of the laws God had given on the care of the poor, widowed and orphan. She would have learned of the gleaning; they were returning at harvest time. Had Ruth ever had to work before? Did she help her mother at home, while servants went out bring in the harvest? Mahlon would have provided for her once they were married. I can only imagine going out and gleaning was a new concept for her. How would she be treated? Would she be allowed to glean in the fields? She had to work, she had to find grain, so out of need and obedience, she went.

She ended up at  Boaz's field, she asked to work, and it was granted her. She had gained a reputation as a woman of excellence in Bethlehem, perhaps that is why the field boss allowed her to glean, disregarding her being a Moabite. Grace.

When Boaz learned who she was, he gave instruction to allow her to follow after the servants, no longer gleaning the edges of the fields, no one was to mistreat her, she was to drink from the servants water jugs. Boaz was blessing Ruth for her care and obedience to Naomi. Ruth was the recipient of much grace because of her desire to follow after God.

As a widow, I have often times found myself having to do something, not because I wanted to, but because I had no choice. No one was there to do it for me, I know longer had a provider and protector. I have to make the decision when to get new tires, or do I get the brakes done on the car first and wait on the broken tooth. What deductible do I get for my health insurance? Do I try to fix the plumbing myself? How long can I deal with a cracked windshield? These are all decisions I didn't have to make before, and there are days I resent having to make them. I don't want to have too. I rather plan a menu, make fresh bread, and make tea and read in the garden while the bread  rises. But that is not what I am call to now. It wasn't what Ruth was called to. She had to go find work. I have to go find work. It is the way of it, and I am trusting, as I obey, God will give the grace and honor my efforts to do what I know I have to do, not because I deserve it, but because that is what grace is all about.