Have you ever done something just because you knew in your heart it was the right thing to do? Maybe you had no idea how things would turn out. But the first step was clear because of how you felt inside.

When I was in grade school, my best friend lived just two houses away from me.
We played together almost every day—on our bikes, in her backyard, or in my pool.
But around fifth or sixth grade, something changed.

My friend began spending more time with two other girls who had pretty different interests. Instead of reading, biking, and taking walks, they were more into trying on clothes and calling boys on the phone. I did not want to lose my friend, so I really tried to fit in with these girls, doing stuff I wasn’t really interested in. But I always felt left out.

Another girl in our neighborhood often came to my house and asked to play, but she didn’t seem as exciting as these girls, so I usually said no. But one day it occurred to me that I wasn’t acting like myself anymore. So maybe I was ready for a new step. I knew I needed to do something, but what? 

Prayer helped me through this time. I would remember that, as children of God, I and my friends were cared for by Him. We were already special to God—we didn’t have to rely on each other to feel loved or worthwhile. When I took time to pray like this, I felt God’s love more strongly, and having just the right people as friends seemed less important. I felt more complete and more ready to help others.

Soon it was clear in my heart what I could do. Instead of trying to fit in with the girls I thought were cool, maybe I could hang out with someone who wanted a friend. This gave me a new outlook on friendship—that I could give, too, and not always be worried about getting.

I started to spend time with the quieter girl in my neighborhood. And guess what? We became very close, and had lots of fun through middle school, high school, and beyond. Leaving the old way for the new one was hard at first, but I’m so glad I did.

Maybe this was how a woman in the Bible, called Ruth, felt. When her husband passed away, Ruth had to decide where she would live next. It probably would have been easier to go back to her old ways—to the family and to the religion and gods she had known before she met her husband.

But something had changed for Ruth since then. From her husband, Mahlon, and his mother, Naomi, she had learned about the one God. The more she learned, the more she came to trust God’s goodness and love. So she chose instead to stay with Naomi and to go with her to Naomi’s country (see book of Ruth, chapter 1).

Even after making this decision, though, Ruth’s future was not clear to her. But believing in a loving God gave her something to trust. It gave her a new way to think about herself and her future.

What is it about believing in one good God that helps us know we’re special? A line from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures gives a good place to start. Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “As mortals give up the delusion that there is more than one Mind, more than one God, man in God’s likeness will appear . . .” (p. 191). As we understand more about God and His goodness, ability, and perfection, more of our own goodness, ability, and perfection appears.

Also, since there’s only one God governing, each of us is part of one grand design. This is exciting—it brings a sense of belonging and a feeling of purpose. And for me, this feeling of purpose—being there for someone who wanted a friend—ended up being more exciting than fitting in with the cool crowd.

We all have a divinely given purpose—a way of helping others and healing in our own individual way. It may be something that grows within us and becomes clearer the more we listen to God.

Fortunately, finding and living out a God-given purpose doesn’t have to mean taking as big a step as moving to a new country as Ruth did. It actually is more about letting God move us to think in new ways. Then we might feel prompted to give by doing things like having lunch with the new kid at school, or doing a math problem on the board when the teacher asks for a volunteer, or helping a younger sister or brother learn a new athletic skill.

God’s purpose for His children is big, and God works through us to bring unlimited blessings to us and our neighbors.

So if you feel nudged to give to others in a new way, perhaps that nudge is from God, coaxing you into a greater sense of purpose and worth. Even if the final destination isn’t clear at first, it is a promising path. And the first person to be blessed along the way is you.

The story of Ruth

As told in the book of Ruth in the Contemporary English Version of the Bible.

Elimelech from the tribe of Ephrath lived in the town of Bethlehem. His wife was named Naomi, and their two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. But when their crops failed, they moved to the country of Moab.

And while they were there, Elimelech died.

About ten years later, Mahlon and Chilion also died. Now Naomi had no husband
or sons.

When Naomi heard that the Lord had given his people a good harvest, she and her two daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab and go to Judah. As they were on their way there, Naomi said to them, “Don’t you want to go back home to your own mothers?”

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth held on to her. 

Ruth answered, “I will go where you go, I will live where you live; your people will be my people, your God will be my God.”

The barley harvest was just beginning when Naomi and Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, arrived in Bethlehem.

Ruth went out to pick up grain in a field owned by Boaz. He was a relative of Naomi’s husband Elimelech, as well as a rich and important man.

Boaz went over to Ruth and said, “I think it would be best for you not to pick up grain in anyone else’s field. Stay here with the women and follow along behind them, as they gather up what the men have cut.” 

Ruth worked in the fields until the barley and wheat were harvested.

One day, Naomi said to Ruth: “It’s time I found you a husband, who will give you a home and take care of you.

“You have been picking up grain alongside the women who work for Boaz, and you know he is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be threshing the grain. Watch where he goes to spend the night, then when he is asleep, lift the cover and lie down at his feet. He will tell you what to do.”

Ruth answered, “I’ll do whatever you say.” 

In the middle of the night, Boaz suddenly woke up and was shocked to see a woman lying at his feet. “Who are you?” he asked.

“Sir, I am Ruth,” she answered, “and you are the relative who is supposed to take care of me.”

Boaz replied: “The Lord bless you! This shows how truly loyal you are to your family. You could have looked for a younger man, either rich or poor, but you didn’t. Don’t worry, I’ll do what you have asked.”

Boaz married Ruth, and the Lord blessed her with a son. When Obed grew up he had a son named Jesse, who later became the father of King David.