Unconditional Love’s Reward

RAMBLINGS from Connor’s dad – I was sitting in the coffee shop at church waiting on Connor and Kris. They were volunteering next door in a senior’s luncheon. Connor’s home on spring break and Momma had him helping her serve. I was hoping to catch them for lunch when they finished.

While I sat in front of my computer, Lacy came by and sat down next to me. She had dropped by for a moment, waiting to pick her grandmom up from a doctor’s appointment. She sat there quietly waiting. From the corner of my eye her body language was saying “turn and speak”. Yes, Lacy is our quality time child.

My computer work paused, and as soon as I asked how she was doing, the words started flowing. We talked about life, sleep, and whatever came to mind with her. There was obviously much to catch up with and she was making the most of it.

A few minutes in to our visit, she asked me if I had ever read the book of Ruth in the Bible. A conversation followed talking about Ruth’s love and devotion to her mother in law, Naomi. We talked about how that devotion continued even after her husband, Naomi’s son, died. Her love and devotion was so complete, that she was willing to go with Naomi back to her home country. She was even willing to worship Naomi’s God.

Ruth’s love and devotion for Naomi, led her to worshipping God. The one true God, not one of the many false gods that so many people were worshipping at the time. Because of that love and devotion, she went to the fields of one of Naomi’s relatives to glean left over grain. Because of her love and devotion, she met that relative, Boaz. Because of their laws and customs, he stood in line as a living relative of the deceased husband, to continue his bloodline. A marriage followed, and led to the birth of a son, Obed.  He grew up to have a son named Jesse, who grew up to have a son named David. He grew up to be the King of Israel, and is described in the Bible as a man after God’s own heart.  And generations later, Jesus is traced to David through Joseph.

Because of her love and devotion. Because she didn’t take the easy way out. There is a whole book in the Bible devoted to a lady named Ruth. What would my life look like if I tried to be more like Ruth? What might God have in store for me, or for you, if we just continue to love people in spite of our circumstances…..

” Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8