Read Mk. 5:24-34
January this year I buried my maternal grandmother, she was 90yrs old. Slaughtered a cow that I shared with my mum, which was done in my house. I kept my mum’s portion in one of my deep freezer (it was the only content in it) pending the arrival of my kid sister who took possession of it for my mum.
That very night I had the freezer cleaned up of the bloody deposit in it and turned it off since there was nothing in it. About a week later I started perceiving a strong stench that took over the comfort of my home; upon a thorough investigation I discovered that the strong stench was oozing out of the freezer. On opening it I discovered worms inside and some rotten blood. I was really amazed. I never knew blood could smell that much. I was ashamed and prevented people from visiting me because of the stench. It was so embarrassing and annoying.
It took the intervention of some very close friends who came cleaning on a daily basis because the blood kept oozing out from the corners of th freezer (you can imagine the kind of appliances been sold to people, this particular one is not even up to a year and half old). They were cleaning it even with air freshener. At a point in time we had to bundle the ‘blooming’ freezer outside for thorough washing and flushing. It slept under the elements (heat and cold) for about a week with each day passing still removing bloody substances accompanied with the stench. Normalcy returned to my house about three weeks later, with enough air freshener to even make me a bit comfortable in “my own house.”
Gosh!!! It was so so embarrassing and annoying; it was killing as well. I kept lying to friends who wanted to visit that I was not always home, very busy outside (please, don’t ask me to go for confessions ooo, I have already done that). I still feel the embarrassment of the whole situation especially for “the insistent lies I was broadcasting.”
January this year I buried my maternal grandmother, she was 90yrs old. Slaughtered a cow that I shared with my mum, which was done in my house. I kept my mum’s portion in one of my deep freezer (it was the only content in it) pending the arrival of my kid sister who took possession of it for my mum.
That very night I had the freezer cleaned up of the bloody deposit in it and turned it off since there was nothing in it. About a week later I started perceiving a strong stench that took over the comfort of my home; upon a thorough investigation I discovered that the strong stench was oozing out of the freezer. On opening it I discovered worms inside and some rotten blood. I was really amazed. I never knew blood could smell that much. I was ashamed and prevented people from visiting me because of the stench. It was so embarrassing and annoying.
It took the intervention of some very close friends who came cleaning on a daily basis because the blood kept oozing out from the corners of th freezer (you can imagine the kind of appliances been sold to people, this particular one is not even up to a year and half old). They were cleaning it even with air freshener. At a point in time we had to bundle the ‘blooming’ freezer outside for thorough washing and flushing. It slept under the elements (heat and cold) for about a week with each day passing still removing bloody substances accompanied with the stench. Normalcy returned to my house about three weeks later, with enough air freshener to even make me a bit comfortable in “my own house.”
Gosh!!! It was so so embarrassing and annoying; it was killing as well. I kept lying to friends who wanted to visit that I was not always home, very busy outside (please, don’t ask me to go for confessions ooo, I have already done that). I still feel the embarrassment of the whole situation especially for “the insistent lies I was broadcasting.”
Mine was only for a month, all the discomfort, lies, embarrassment but this woman had hers for 12yrs (Mk. 5:25), suffered in th hands of many doctors and had spent all she had but no improvement (v.26). Horrible!!! Can you imagine the socio-psychological trauma she might have gone through? Mine (my house) that was only a month was horrible and embarrassing, hers was her body for 12 whole years. Gosh!!! What an excruciating pain she might have underwent.
She got guts you know to step out into the crowd with such stench. It’s like “no retreat no surrender.” You can imagine the barrage of insults she might have gotten especially from those with very sensitive nose. Just picture a man/woman standing close by or sitting close to you in a bus/ taxi with a mouth or body odour, a sweaty smoked clothes or with a very bad oozy injury?
She really got guts. With all the trauma she ventured out into the crowd saying “If I can only touch his clothes, I shall be healed” (v.28). This is raw determination my friend. Even Jesus took notice of her touch because it was different, it was the touch not of just faith alone but was back with raw determination. It was a ‘no hold barred’ kind of touch, a strong willed one, a touch with a difference, so strong enough to make the mighty Jesus to stop and ask for the owner of that touch (vv. 30-32). Hmmm! What a resolve.
I don’t know the traumatizing situation you are facing right now but it cannot be as horrible as that of this woman. She was so determined and it won her the mercy face of Jesus: “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace and be healed of your illness” (v.34). Why not hang in there and let it be for you as for this woman a “no retreat no surrender” situation. Resolved now and be determined to go and remain with Jesus no matter the situation you are in.
Take comfort now in the words of Is. 53:5 “…By his wounds we are healed.” Pray and praise God tonight with the song “O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder.” Study too Deut. 29.
SHEPHERD ME O LORD BEYOND MY STRENGTH.