One day Naomi said to Ruth, "My daughter, it's time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for..."

Ruth 3:1 NLT

The whole of chapter 3 is an account of what Naomi told Ruth to do to get Boaz's attention. What strikes me here is that Naomi has changed. 

We don't know how long it's taken, at least the barley season plus the wheat season, but there's been healing. Naomi has shifted from being bitter, to being other oriented. 

Healing takes the time that it takes. 

It's not that time heals, but Naomi came back to her place, back to her whanau, and has been cared for by Ruth, and that nurturing and care over time has allowed her to heal. 

We all need a place where we have a sense of belonging, people we belong with, and people to care for us. We don't all have a piece of land or people somewhere to "go back" to, maybe "my people" are not blood relatives, but we all need community. People who will stand with us, know us, keep space, people who are "home". 

And we can be "home" for others. 

While Naomi had gone back to her people it was Ruth who was her "home" and it was her love that allowed Naomi to heal.

#bookofRuth

#home

#healing