Preface
Robes floated everywhere in the crowded dusty market square. The wind fluttered, but her mind did not. She only had one goal in her mind:find Jesus.
Her friends critizied her for even going. "You paid everything you had to fight. You lost your husband, your fortune, and you are about to lose your daughter. Stay with her for the time she has left. There is nothing more you can do. The sooner you realize it, the sooner you will stop ruining your life!"
But she had to. This was her daughter they were talking about. Her neighbors shouted at her as she left. "You are a fool! A dog in their eyes. Who is going to help a dog?" She fleed before she could hear anymore.
The crowd was very interested in him. People peered over the crowd to get a look at him, but she pushed forward. She needed his help. She needed to talk to him. She wasn't like the crowd that was just gawking at him.
The crowd started to notice her, and how could they not? She certainly wasn't Jewish. Her once fine clothes were now ragged. Her beautiful jewelry had been sold long ago except for the ring on her finger. A constant reminder how her husband had left her for another woman, and threw away their daughter in his life.
"What is she doing here?" the crowd murmered. "She doesn't belong here!"
The crowd parted like the Red Sea. None of them wanted to be deviled by even touching her robe.
At one time, this would have hurt her. But a heart full of hurt doesn't even notice pain anymore. She had no fears of what this crowd could do. Her only fear was of her daughter.
She pressed forward looking right and left, saying an unspoken prayer. She wasn't sure who, but she knew her gods had been no help to her. Their stone eyes just stared back at her. They had no power. But he did.
And then she saw him. Hope flooded through her. This was it. Her chance. Her one and only chance. She screamed out:"Have mercy on me, O Lord, King David's Son! For my daughter has a demon within her, and it torments her constantly."
She waited. She waited for him to say something. But he did not look at her. He didn't say a single word. Didn't he hear her? Surely, he must have. But again she screamed, "Lord, help me! My daughter is possesed by a demon. Please help her!"
But again he said nothing. Why wasn't he listening? Why wasn't he helping, didn't he care? So she screamed again even louder than before.
The other men with him, they called them disciples, looked annoyed and a bit mad that she was even there. Angry tears floed from her eyes. She didn't choose what race she was born into.
"Master, tell her to get going," said one to him. "Yes, master for she is bothering us with all her begging," said another.
At that point she wanted to shake that disciple. She wasn't begging. She was in need!
And then he looked at her, "I was sent to help the Jews-the lost sheep of Israel-not the Gentiles."
Encouraged by a response, she went forward and bowed at his feet. "Sir, help me."
"It doesn't seem right to take bread from the children and throw it to the dogs," he said with kind eyes yet his voice firm.
Words flowed from her mouth as if someone else was putting her scramble thoughts into words. "Yes, it is! For even puppies beneath the table are permitted to eat the crumbs that fall."
Jesus looked at her in surprise for a minute. Breathlessly, she waited for what he would say. "Woman, your faith is larger, and your request is granted," he said at last.
Immeadiately, she knew it was so. "Oh, thank you, Lord! Thank you!" She bowed several times and turned back towards home. She ran without another thought leaving Jesus who had just changed her life and the crowd behind.
