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.