By Reba Phelps
When I was 7th grade I took a Home Economics class, as it was quite common in those days to have this offered as an elective in middle school. They taught so many practical lessons that I still use today. We learned to sew buttons on clothes, we learned how to mend something with a hole in it. We learned how to crochet potholders and small blankets. My parents had crocheted potholders for days. We also learned to cook a few dishes. But, one of the most favored projects of the entire class during this time was making a t-shirt with a pattern.
The goal was to be able to wear the shirt. Without embarrassment, of course. As it turns out, sewing was not one of my spiritual gifts. Needless to say, I had crooked hemlines, the sleeves were not the same length. My treasured artwork was destined to be a dust rag in my mother’s cleaning supply cabinet for the rest of its life.
I shall never forget the teacher’s words, “the hemline is the most important part of a garment.”
I would have to say there is a lady in the Bible that would agree with that same statement. She needed a miracle and told anyone who would listen that she only needed to touch the hem of his garment and she knew she would be healed.
She was so desperate to be healed and made whole that she fought her way through a crowd of people just to touch his clothes. She didn’t expect a conversation, she didn’t expect to take up much of his time at all. She just wanted to get just close enough to get her miracle. During these times it was forbidden that any women speak to a man in public. She didn’t care, she had an appointment with a Savior who was a huge part of the rumor mill at this point. Stories of healings, raising people from the dead and turning water into wine had made its way all through the villages and towns. News traveled really fast and they didn’t even have a Facebook account.
Just like this lady with the issue of blood, everything happens in God’s timing not ours. She was healed and claimed as Jesus’ daughter in an instant. Many of us will go through years of pain, years of brokenness, years of sadness and hurt, and years of making the worst mistakes. But take heart, all it takes is a moment to visit with our Savior. When he redeems and heals you, it will leave you wanting to proclaim his goodness to anyone who will listen.
“Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve yers came up to him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “Your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.”
Mathew 9:20-22
Reba Phelps: jreba.phelps@gmail.com
