Naomi said to them, "Each of you go back to your mother's home. May the Lord show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me. May the Lord grant each of you rest in the house of a new husband."

She kissed them, and they wept loudly. 

Ruth 1:8-10 CSB

Not so easy being women on their own in a culture set up around family and wealth, especially land, being retained in the male line of the family.

Their tears speak of their loss.

Their tears speak of their relationship with one another.

Their tears speak of difficult decisions. 

It's OK to have tears. 

It's OK to have tears that we cry with others. 

The place that these three are in is a tough place. Limited resources.

Limited options.

Naomi wanted the best for Orpah and Ruth and could only see one way forward.

There are days, times when our losses are big, our resources seem limited, options are few, the world seems against us, and it's OK to cry. 

Naomi, Orpah and Ruth give us a model and permission.

#bookofRuth

#itsOKnottobeOK

#sometimetearsareallwehave