My Little Daughter

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?'” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:21-43 

We have three beautiful and brilliant daughters, all adults and all doing amazing things with their lives. I cannot help as a mother to be completely proud and so in love with them. I also can't help worrying about them as each has had tremendous challenges and their lives are not simple. Being a parent means always wanting the best, and praying constantly for their health and well being no matter how old they are. I ask God to protect them and help them to flourish night and day. Being a parent also means that we sometimes wish they were little again and the problems were things we could fix.


Jairus' daughter is near death and he comes to Jesus for healing. While on their way they are interrupted by a woman who was bleeding, weakened and at her last. In their hurry they almost passed her by but she reached out with her last strength. Jesus comforts her and tells her that her faith has healed her. Meanwhile, Jarius' little girl is dying and dies before they can reach her. Jesus reminds them that they need faith and proceeds. The girl is brought back and healed. These were dark hours for the family and community, they were stressed for the child and parents. Jesus not only brought the child back, but brought the whole community to a new understanding of faith. Faith that is not simply obedience but faith that imagines and welcomes miracles. God invites us to bring that faith to those dark and impossible places today.

Today I ask God to help me move from worry to faith, from anxiety to waiting for miracles. We are never alone in our troubles and God is always acting for health and restoration. May we go forth today expecting God to work miracles of love and renewal, despite the weather, despite the predictions.