I'm doing something different up to Thanksgiving this year. Each weekday I'll post a short excerpt from my book along with some questions to ponder. These questions correspond with a private Facebook group I'm facilitating, and will also be helpful to book clubs and widows groups which are going through the book. Most importantly, I hope you'll benefit too. The Bible provides a light for our path, and I believe the book of Ruth was written especially for widows. Out of everything, Ruth was the best and most helpful resource for me when I was widowed.
I hope these glimpses at Ruth and Postcards From The Widows' Path will be a source of help and strength for you. If you'd care to comment, please click the comments at the end of this post. It's always great to hear from readers. ♥ ferree
AUTHOR NOTES
Read Ruth 1:5-7
"... Remember, Naomi didn’t see God, hear his voice, or feel the warmth of his presence. She simply had a listening ear and a ready heart. She paid attention to what God was doing and prepared to join in. First, she heard about God and made preparations to move to the place he was blessing. Next, she left the burial ground of her loved ones. That doesn’t mean she forgot about her husband and sons; it only means it was her time to move on.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(chapter 3 of Postcards, and Ruth 1:1-9)
There is a subtle shift in Naomi from Ruth 1:5 – 7, summed up in two words: She left. What would that look like in your life? What changes would that bring about for you? When Psalm 23:4 says “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” What does the phrase “walk through” picture in your mind?
PRAYER
Dear Lord,
I’m still here, so you must have plans for me. Thank you for a role model like Naomi. I, too, will listen to hear where I can find you at work. Please help me to move on when the time is right. Amen.
Thank you for giving me something to ponder as I pray.
ReplyDeletewhere do you move on to when you don't know which
ReplyDeleteway to move? You seem frozen, paralyzed or stuck?
What do you do with the numbness?
Dear Anonymous, Good questions, because when we're paralyzed we can't move, can we. And that's a really hard, and very misunderstood place to be. It's like we're trying to speak but no words come out; trying to embrace life and our arms are limp at our side. Be assured that the feelings of numbness are common in grief---you're recovering from a huge shock to your life, so the numbness is normal. People may exclaim about how strong you are or how peaceful you are, but truth is we're numb! Eventually it will subside. In the meantime, consider it as a sort of buffer so you can start picking up the pieces---take care of your health with exercise and nutrition. Pay attention to how much or how little sleep you're getting. Make a doctor's appointment for a physical. If the numbness has been going on for what you consider too long of a time, talk to a grief counsellor. Please let me know how you're doing in the days ahead and how I can pray for you. Most of all, this time of numbness is a time of waiting for the Lord, and He'll show you the right direction to take in His perfect time. It may be that now is a time to simply be still and wait, and that's OK. <3
ReplyDelete