When I hear this story
I feel some resistance
It is a story of a woman with persistence
She asks for Jesus’ help more than once
She must have felt frustrated, is my hunch
She had a sick daughter
Who she’d help, through heck or high water
She had faith, and once Jesus saw that
He healed her daughter, right off the bat
But not before she was tested
It felt like she was being vested
I am so confused, I think to myself
I thought Jesus would right away help her Himself
Maybe he thought she was asking for food
Which wasn’t important, in his attitude
He taught us earlier on
That what comes from our hearts
Is what we should dwell upon
Not what we eat for lunch or dinner
It’s what is in our hearts and words that make us a winner
But this story makes me think
Why didn’t Jesus help them as quick as a wink?
Why do we have to ask and ask
To get God’s help with such a task?
The answer is, I don’t know
And I don’t like how not knowing makes my brain grow
Maybe it’s for a reason we don’t understand
Or so God can surprise us with something grand
But very often it seems
The answers make less sense than some of our wildest dreams
And we have to accept
that things might not change, even if we wept
I don’t like that, and you don’t have to either
It’s ok to feel frustrated and need a breather
We see that Jesus helped the woman, determined and faithful
So lets learn from her, even when we’re feeling bashful
We can ask for help
Sometimes with a yelp
Because God knows our hearts
That’s where God puts the wisdom that God imparts.
Erynne DeVore is director of Children’s MInistry for St. John UMC.