But Ruth said to Naomi: “Do not tell me to leave you. I want to go with you. I want to stay with you. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. I want to die in the place where you die and then they must dig a grave and bury me there. I will not leave you as long as I live. I make this promise to you. I want God to listen to what I say. He will be my Witness that I will do what I say.” Ruth 1:16-17, The Bible for the Deaf

 

One of the wonderful things in life is the incredible people you meet on your way.

 

Through my work, I have met a lot of interesting and remarkable people.At work, I also have impressive colleagues,some of whom have actually become some of my very best friends, while some are almost like my sisters.It is also these people who fill my heart when we analyse, discuss and tread through the things of life together. Together, we make sense of the twists and turns, the joys, the things we worry about or the sorrows we sometimes experience. And the best is the sincere experience of deep love and loyalty,understanding and respecting the things that make us different and the things that unite us.

 

It is one of the things money cannot buy.It does not matter how many millions of rands you have.

 

Ruth loved her mother-in-law, Naomi, very much.She did not want to leave her when they were to return to Israel from Moab.They must have really had a special bond, so special that Ruth remained loyal and wanted to accompany her mother-in-law.

 

I believe that loyalty is one of those qualities where it is a case of action speaks louder than words.And I think that this is why we can learn from Ruth.She did not just tell Naomi how much she loved her, how important she was to her and that she would forever remain loyal to her.Ruth also proved this through her actions by going with Naomi, attending to her and staying with her.She really cared about her and wanted to make sure that she was okay.She wanted to support and help her.

 

We live in a time where we can have hundreds of Facebook friends or followers on other social media platforms.However, many people are terribly lonely.

 

Instead of wondering who your friends are, think for a bit: are you a true, sincere and loyal friend?

 

I know how amazing it is to have loyal friends in my life.But I hope that one day, when I look back on my own life, my actions will bear witness of someone who was loyal to others.

 

Prayer: Father, help me to be loyal in the way I treat my family and friends.Thank you for the privilege of having amazing, loyal people in my life.Help me to give them more of myself, too, without expecting anything in return.Amen