WITH OPEN HEARTS

WITH OPEN HEARTS


Today we have a great
FAMILY STORY=for the ages


Naomi LOSES her husband=and
Her sons=but her daughter-in-law
Ruth proves=EVER FAITHFUL


She lives with AN OPEN HEART
Following Naomi=wherever she goes


“For WHEREVER you go=
I will go=wherever you lodge
I will lodge.......” Ruth 1:16


Naomi is is a KIND
And GENTLE mother-in-law
To RUTH
They are


Living with OPEN HEARTS=
Something we should
All do


“I will open my mouth
With a parable


I will utter things-
Things-from of old--------” Psalm 78:2


After her husband dies
Ruth decides
NOT to stay in Moab


Instead=she decides
To STAY with Naomi
And return to Bethlehem
Of Judah


Ruth not only
Embraces a new country
But she also
Embraces a NEW GOD


“Your people shall be
My people


And your God
Will be my God” Ruth 1:16


She is living=Ruth is
Living with an
OPEN LOVING HEART


Once Ruth is in Judah
She is met
With PREJUDICE AND HATRED


Only Boaz=a kinsman
SAVES her
From the
POSSIBILITY OF HARM


In light of
The story of RUTH


I think we all NEED
To ask ourselves
Some questions


Are we OPEN
To welcoming others
Into our life?


Do we welcome NEW neighbors
Or new RELATIVES
Into our lives?


“And whoever
WELCOMES one such child
In my name
WELCOMES ME” Matthew 18:5


“For if you do these things
You will never stumble


And you will receive
A rich WELCOME
Into the eternal kingdom


Of our Lord
And Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 1:10-11


“Anyone who WELCOMES them
Shares in their wicked work” 2 John :11


Dear Lord=we pray
That we OPEN OUR HEARTS
With love


To new people
ENTERING OUR LIVES


MAY we have hearts
As OPEN as Ruth and Naomi=
And yours dear Jesus


In Jesus' name=and in the name of our FOREVER WELCOMING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-22-19




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.