Let's learn from Ruth, the gleaner. Just as she went out to gather the ears of corn, I must enter the fields of prayer, meditation, spiritual practices, and Scripture to gather spiritual nourishment. Ruth picked up her portion ear by ear; her gains were gradual. I should be content in searching for single truths, even if they come slowly. Each ear forms a bundle, and each gospel lesson makes us wiser for salvation.

The gleaner keeps her eyes open. If she drifted along, she'd have nothing to carry home joyfully. I must be attentive in my spiritual practices so they don't become fruitless. I've likely missed much already—how I long to value my opportunities and glean diligently. The gleaner stoops for every find, and I must do the same. While pride criticizes, the humble heart gleans and benefits.

A humble heart helps us receive the gospel. The soul-saving word is only received with meekness. Pride makes a bad gleaner; it robs us and shouldn't be tolerated. The gleaner holds onto what she gathers. If she dropped one ear for another, she'd end with very little.

She's careful to keep what she gains, and her efforts add up. How often do I forget what I hear? One truth pushes out another, making my study useless. Do I appreciate the importance of storing up truth? Hunger makes the gleaner wise. Without corn in her hand, there’s no bread on her table. Her sense of necessity drives her efforts. I have even greater needs. Lord, help me feel it, that I may be driven to glean in fields rich with reward for the diligent.