HOW DID I MISS HER?
Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue
leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house
because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
While Jesus was still speaking, someone
came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she
will be healed.”
When he arrived at the house of Jairus,
he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the
child’s father and mother. Meanwhile,
all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus
said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
They laughed at him,
knowing that she was dead. But he took
her by the hand and said, “My
child, get up!” Her spirit
returned, and at once she stood up. Then
Jesus told them to give her something to eat.
Her parents were
astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Luke
8:41-42, 49-56
I am a mother, yet when I read or hear
these verses, I think of the father. BUT,
while the father went to find Jesus, the mother waited. How did I miss her?
AND SHE WAITED
I waited and worried and heard them say my child
was dead. Dead? How could she be dead? My child! I would no longer see her smile. Never again would I hear her say the word…
the word … mother. Oh, my God… my heart
is breaking. Where is Jairus? He must not have found Jesus. It cannot be.
My daughter cannot be dead.
I heard a noise.
The crowd was looking up the street.
Jairus must be coming. Hurrying
to the door, I wondered, “How will I tell him his daughter is no longer?” My heart was beating so hard, I thought it
would burst. Jesus is here too…. But too late.
When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he
did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s
father and mother.
Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and
mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus
said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
As they entered the
door, Jesus seemed calm. Does he not see
my grief? Go into the house? No. I
do not want to see…. But…Jairus takes my
hand and says, “Come and do not fear. Our
daughter will be alive.” Trust? Alive? But
how?
I am only standing because Jairus is holding me
up. Jesus is not praying for my child. I thought… “pray, pray!” My heart almost stops beating…. why is Jesus
not praying? And then, ever so gently, I
see Jesus take her hand and say, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she
stood up.
I turned to Jairus and whispered, “Our daughter
is alive.” I looked at Jesus in absolute
astonishment. My daughter is alive. The touch and words of Jesus restored my joy.
As I looked from Jesus to my daughter, who was
standing up, I heard Jesus telling us to give her something to eat. Oh .. of
course.. food. What was I standing here for? I must prepare her favorite food. Food? Of course, I must go --- my daughter will be
hungry.
I was rushing to prepare the food when Jesus
spoke, “You are not
to tell anyone what had happened.”
I thought, “Not tell? How am I to do that? I want to tell the world.” I will worry about that later. I must feed my daughter. My very much alive daughter.
HOW DID I MISS HER?
I know one thing. I am glad I see her now. I can see her eyes. They are bright and no longer contain
tears. I can see her skin. It is glowing from having seen the Glory of
God. I can see her lips. They are curled in a smile of absolute
joy. I can see her hands. They are preparing food for her daughter, who
was awakened from sleep. I can hear her
whispering, “My daughter lives.”
Whispering, because she was not supposed to tell.
