This morning, I want to share my story of Ruth with you.  Ruth has always been one of my favorite books of the Bible.  I have always been touched by the beautiful relationship between Naomi and Ruth.  I also, had an aunt that I really loved who was named Ruth. Though, my story is nothing like Biblical Ruth, it had the same impact on my heart.One day about a year or so ago, I was having one of those harried mommy days.  I was pregnant with Sprout and running late to pick up Ace from school. Lucky was about three and was long overdue for a nap.  I scurried through the supermarket aisles trying to get what I needed.  I finally made it to the checkout and began to unload my buggy when I realized DH never gave my debit card back to me after pumping gas the night before.  I opened my wallet to realize I only had about fifteen dollars.  It wasn't enough for the things I had picked up and planned to make for dinner, so I needed to figure something else out to make.  I threw everything back in the buggy and began rushing through the aisles again.This time, Lucky spotted a bag of doughnuts, which are among his favorite forms of sustenance.  He asked for a bag and I told him no and then it began.  He screamed and screamed up and down every aisle.  I didn't even know what I was picking up off the shelves.  I think we ended up eating something like hot dogs and macaroni and cheese that night.Anyway, I made it to the car alive, buckled Lucky into his seat and began unloading the bags, when this woman came up behind me and put her hand on my arm.  At first, she startled me.  It isn't often nowadays, that we're approached by perfect strangers.  I don't even remember what I said to her, but she grabbed my hand and placed something inside of it.  I opened it and saw that it was a folded five dollar bill.I must have looked at her like she was crazy because I was thinking I didn't need money, I needed a vacation!  She was already walking away and I began to protest and tried to give this poor lady her money back.

However, she just walked back over to me and held my hand and said, "Honey, I was a young mother once, too.  Take this money and buy yourself something with a lot of caffeine."  I kept trying to give the money back to her because I felt just awful taking it from her!  But she wouldn't budge.  I finally thanked her and asked her what her name was so I could at least remember her in my prayers.  She told me it was Ruth.  I couldn't help but notice the strong German accent she had.  We began talking and I learned that she was a military wife and had met her husband during WWII.  She told me how she had two boys and that she raised them by herself while her husband fulfilled his military duties and her family all lived back in Germany.  We talked about the difficulty of not having family nearby and the strain that puts on a mother.  I have never complained about raising my kids alone, but I couldn't deny the fact that it is hard work.  {DH didn't count because he was working two jobs at the time, leaving little time for much else.  And when he was home, I didn't want to burden him with my responsibilities.}  Mothering with help is hard work, let alone having no one.  No one to watch the kids while you ran to the store, or when you had to use the bathroom somewhere.  No one to sit at your house and just keep you company, to break the monotony and the loneliness.  Simply no one.  Women who have their mothers nearby, or other family or friends, should thank God every day because they don't know how good they have it, and rarely even realize it.  But Ruth?  Ruth understood all of this.  She had no idea who I was but I felt like she knew so much about me.

She was such a kind and loving woman and even though I was running terribly late, I didn't want to leave her.  I thought about exchanging phone numbers or email addresses at least, but didn't.  We eventually said goodbye and I gave her a big hug.I got it the car and made the sign of the cross over her as she walked across the parking lot.  Then, I just cried.  I don't know why.  Maybe, because I was emotionally drained and my conversation with her made me realize that it's okay not to have it together every second of every day.  That I'm not failing somehow by having a rough day every now and then.  That it is very normal to feel the weight of raising kids and taking care of a husband and home and never getting a single solitary minute to myself.  Ruth just made me feel like it was okay.  And that felt so good.I refolded the bill and stuck it in the pocket of my wallet.  I did take her advice; I went and got myself a nice big cup of earl grey tea that afternoon.  But not with Ruth's five dollars.   I saved hers.  For a really long time, actually.  I didn't want to get rid of it.  Every time I opened my wallet it reminded me of her and brought tears to my eyes.  I whispered silent little prayers for her all the time.  I still do.  I don't think I will ever forget her.  Her small act of kindness was needed more than even I knew.  And I'm still amazed that she picked up on that need.  I mean, I don't think I looked any different than any other mother in the supermarket, even though maybe I did, who knows.  But, her heart sensed something and she went out of her way to brighten my day.  I hope she knows how much she did.I don't know what her beliefs were or what political party she belonged to, but I know that she was living the gospel.  She was fulfilling her duty to serve others.  She was acutely aware of the needs of the people around her, even perfect strangers.

Almost one year later, I was at a red light.  It was raining like crazy and cars were speeding by trying to get to wherever it is they were going.  I looked over at the median where a young woman was standing with a sign, her face streaked with dirt.  There was a cardboard box propped up behind her and a little girl, about Lucky's age, was sitting underneath.  I grabbed my wallet and looked inside.  I didn't even have a dollar.  Then, I saw Ruth's five dollar bill folded up in the pocket.  I honked my horn and rolled down the window, motioning for her to come.  She ran over and the money passed from my hand to hers.  "God bless you," she said before running back to the little girl.  I rolled the window back up and whispered, "No, God bless Ruth."