As I sat on the couch, I found myself, after a long fight to maintain a relationship, physically and mentally exhausted and perplexed. I did all that I could think to do, and it still never seemed to measure up to the minimum of enough. I was hurt in places that I didn't even know that my heart could feel. Not only was my friendship destroyed, but my sense of safety was obliterated. I, seemingly, had nowhere to go.
This is the person that I revealed my scars to. The one that I told my secrets to, only to be betrayed. How many times have you opened yourself up to someone, only to realize you should not have trusted them as you had? As I read a devotional on Ruth this morning I realized something. Had I been obedient to the instructions of the Lord, I would have been shown so much, seen it earlier, and avoided some of the pain. Instead, I held on for fear of losing my not so safe safety. The truth is, I became comfortable, even though I knew quickly that it was an unhealthy relationship. I chose to hold on despite what I knew the truth to be.
As I read the story of Ruth, I realized that all of the women in the story showed the greatest feats of courage. After losing her sons and husband, Naomi took the final step. She approached her daughters- in- law and told them to leave her and go back to their families after she prayed a blessing over them. Naomi gave her daughters the option to leave her and travel back to their families as she traveled alone.
Now Orpah decided this journey was not for her, so she kissed her mother-in-law on the cheek and journeyed back to her family. How difficult this had to be? Many times we look at Orpah as the one who abandoned Naomi, but what if she truly knew that the journey Ruth and Naomi were preparing to take was not for her. I wonder how the story would have changed or evolved had she joined them in spite of being aware that she shouldn't travel with them. And in the end we know the story of Ruth, and how things ended in grand fashion for her.
Naomi asked one question that shaped the course of events for both young ladies. She could have been selfish and demanded that they come with her, but the reality is that she showed herself to be an example of God’s love to us. He would never force us to journey with Him, but He is always willing to walk with you through the journey if you so choose.
How would my situation have ended had I truly been honest and given the option of journeying with me versus having that person stay under false pretenses? In the end, know that most times it is better to allow someone the option to decide if they want to journey with you or not. Be honest about who you are and your feelings, and if they chose to stay, you know you have a confidant. If not, thank the person for their role in your journey thus far, give them a parting kiss, and move on with your life happy to have learned a lesson or two from them.
This is the person that I revealed my scars to. The one that I told my secrets to, only to be betrayed. How many times have you opened yourself up to someone, only to realize you should not have trusted them as you had? As I read a devotional on Ruth this morning I realized something. Had I been obedient to the instructions of the Lord, I would have been shown so much, seen it earlier, and avoided some of the pain. Instead, I held on for fear of losing my not so safe safety. The truth is, I became comfortable, even though I knew quickly that it was an unhealthy relationship. I chose to hold on despite what I knew the truth to be.
As I read the story of Ruth, I realized that all of the women in the story showed the greatest feats of courage. After losing her sons and husband, Naomi took the final step. She approached her daughters- in- law and told them to leave her and go back to their families after she prayed a blessing over them. Naomi gave her daughters the option to leave her and travel back to their families as she traveled alone.
Now Orpah decided this journey was not for her, so she kissed her mother-in-law on the cheek and journeyed back to her family. How difficult this had to be? Many times we look at Orpah as the one who abandoned Naomi, but what if she truly knew that the journey Ruth and Naomi were preparing to take was not for her. I wonder how the story would have changed or evolved had she joined them in spite of being aware that she shouldn't travel with them. And in the end we know the story of Ruth, and how things ended in grand fashion for her.
Naomi asked one question that shaped the course of events for both young ladies. She could have been selfish and demanded that they come with her, but the reality is that she showed herself to be an example of God’s love to us. He would never force us to journey with Him, but He is always willing to walk with you through the journey if you so choose.
How would my situation have ended had I truly been honest and given the option of journeying with me versus having that person stay under false pretenses? In the end, know that most times it is better to allow someone the option to decide if they want to journey with you or not. Be honest about who you are and your feelings, and if they chose to stay, you know you have a confidant. If not, thank the person for their role in your journey thus far, give them a parting kiss, and move on with your life happy to have learned a lesson or two from them.
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