So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. 

"Is it really Naomi?" the women asked. 

"Don't call me Naomi," she responded. 

"Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?"

So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Ruth 1:19-22 NLT

Naomi is so unhappy that we'd probably say she was depressed today. 

She left seeking a better life and lost so much, and now is barely recognisable. She's lost her husband, her sons, her mana, blames God, looks like in hindsight she made a poor choice to leave, blames the world. 

"Change my name for from pleasant to bitter".

What would we do if Naomi appeared? 

How would I be towards her? 

Would I defend God? 

Would I respond to her anger and bitterness with defensiveness, anger?

What does she need?

Naomi is a real person who has been deeply hurt by loss.

Place. 

Belonging.

Family.

The writer of this book invites us in to sit with Naomi and to hear her heart, her pain, and not to fix it, not to turn away either, but to know the person. 

#monday

#Godsgym

#lovepeople

#bookofRuth