Cried. Kissed. Left.

They had both lost their husbands. Their mother-in-law had also lost her husband. For a time, the three widows stayed together till the older woman decided to return to her home country.

Knowing she had nothing to offer them, Naomi impressed upon Ruth and Orpah who had offered to accompany her home to remain in their homeland. Both insisted on going with Naomi, but she was adamant that that they stayed.

“At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.” Ruth 1:14

Orpah probably hadn’t thought through what it meant to go with Naomi. As Naomi explained what going with her would mean for the women, Orpah realized that she wasn’t ready to pay the price. Much as she loved Naomi and had earlier expressed the desire to follow her, when she was faced with the reality of what lay ahead, she quickly bolted out of there.

Some of us are like Orpah, we are quick to profess our love for and committment to God. We make emotional declarations and zealous pronouncements to God. But when we realize the sacrifice and work our love and commitment require, we begin to backtrack.

When the rubber meets the road or push comes to shove; when we must put our money where our mouths are, then we are found wanting!

May God give us the grace to follow through on our promises to Him no matter what. May He give us the grace to follow Him till the end, through the water and the fire, in good times and in bad knowing that God is worth every and any sacrifices we make for His sake!

Blessings!

Love, Lady Monica ❤️