Father’s Daughter

by Rev. Dorcas George

Jesus
answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it
be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that
very hour.

She
approaches, desperate mother,

Pushing
past disciple’s frowns,

Gentile!
Woman! How unseemly!

Master,
make her stop this now.

Words
of "dogs" and "children,"

Seem
to echo in her heart,

Still,
to reach the man called Jesus,

She
will not be turned aside.

§

A
frown–a sigh, shrugged resignation.

Who
is this daughter, Lord, you gave?

All
these questions! So unseemly!

Help
me teach her woman’s ways.

Go
with the ladies, child,

And
learn of graces girls must know,

Learn
to speak of softer things.

Go
now, and find "a woman’s role."

Sit
in silence.

Stop
your teaching!

Tell
your husband,

He
is lord.

If
your heart is weary,

God
will give you grace to stand.

Hide
your gifts and learn submission,

Learn
the pleasures women plan.

Nodded
heads and grave agreement,

Suits
and ties each large and strong.

Jesus?
Are you here, my Savior?

Do
you see me, so alone?

Like
the Gentile in the Gospel,

Seeking
crumbs from Jesus’ hand,

Even
I, dear Lord and Master,

May
I not approach the throne?

§

Your
faith is sweet to me, my daughter,

Come
and learn. Come, taste and grow,

Pharisees
and Patriarchs,

Will
never stop the Spirit’s flow!

Earthly
fathers cannot see,

What
Heaven’s hand is forming,

Like
your sister in the story,

Your
request is granted. Go!

Go,
but speak with humble heart,

Of
hope and peace and mercy,

Speak
with joy and speak with sorrow,

Truth
in love, my grace to show.