Wednesday - Highly Valued Daughters

Day 13

“You is Smart, You is Kind, You is Important.”

The Help, written in 2009 by Kathryn Stockett and adapted for film in 2011 by Tate Taylor, tells the story of black maids working in white Southern homes in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi. One of the maids, Aibileen, has spent her entire adult life working for white families, caring for their homes and raising their children. Her “last baby” would be Mae Mobley, the young daughter of Elizbeth Leefolt, whose parenting insecurities result in significant neglect. Aibileen recognizes Elizabeth’s inability to see her daughter as the precious gift that she is and intentionally and regularly reminds Mae Mobley of her inherent worth, resulting in Mae Mobley growing to love and trust Aibileen more deeply than anyone else in her world, including her mother. There is a beautiful scene in the book and movie where Aibileen and Mae Mobley are together in the nursery rocking chair, rehearsing the truths that Aibileen needs Mae Mobley to internalize. “You is Kind, You is Smart, You is Important.”

Today’s reading is a beautiful recounting of how highly Jesus values women. He notices, sees, loves, cares for and heals women! They are NOT a bother to Him or less valuable than men or sons; they are precious and a priority to Him!

Read Mark 5:21-40

Two Daughters - A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

Jairus was a devoted father. While a synagogue leader most likely of the Pharisee sect, he was consumed with fear that his darling daughter was slipping away. She had been sick for too long; instead of getting better, she was worsening every day. Surely aware of Jesus’ reputation as a healer but also of his colleagues' opinion of Him, he made the decision a good father makes, choosing his daughter over appearances and his reputation. In desperation, Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet, begging Him to come and heal his daughter. Jesus was touched by Jairus’ courage to go against certain pressure from Jewish leaders to join their conspiracy and plot against Jesus. Recognizing Jairus’ immense love for his daughter, Jesus went with him…as did everyone else, all of them pushing against Jesus as He walked down the narrow street…

…here the gospel writer, Mark, makes use of a literary technique known as “mise en abyme,” a type of frame narrative, in which the author includes a story within the story. It’s almost as if Mark opens a parentheses and writes of this next encounter. Mise en abyme, French for “placement in abyss,” suggests that a specific theme recurs within the stories. I would propose that the recurring theme here is “Highly Valued Daughters.” 

A woman had been suffering from constant bleeding for 12 years. She endured 12 years of being ceremonially unclean, unable to be around others in corporate worship or even in the marketplace. For 12 years she had been given no help by doctors and their treatments, instead her suffering was made worse. She had lost everything - family, money, community, purpose, hope. But the woman had heard about Jesus, the healer and miracle worker and decided to take her shot. What did she have to lose that she hadn’t already lost? Her desperation and faith caused her to risk exposure and judgment, as just by being in the crowd she was technically making those around her, and Jesus, unclean. She coached herself, “If I just touch His clothes, I’ll be made well,” (Mk. 5:28) and waded through the sea of people surrounding Jesus. The instant she touched His clothing, the bleeding ceased and she sensed that she was whole, something she had not experienced in 12 years. 

She was eternally grateful, but didn’t want to make a scene. Turning to head home, she heard Jesus ask, “Who touched my clothes?” I imagine the healed woman was filled with panic thinking, “Oh no! What should I do? I’m caught! Maybe He’ll just shrug it off and keep going?” Jesus did not shrug it off, as He felt power go out of His body and began looking around to see who had touched His clothes. The woman, with much fear and trembling, fell down before Jesus and told Him everything. While the text doesn’t specifically include this, I imagine Jesus placing His hand under her chin and lifting it, encouraging her to look into His eyes as He calls her His daughter. “Daughter,” a term describing relationship within a family, in which one can expect affection, protection and care. This woman’s faith in Jesus, that He would care for and save her, instantly formed this tender relationship with Him. Jesus continues to care for her gently as He instructs her to “Go in peace - no more fear, trembling or hiding - and be healed from your affliction.” 

Back to Jairus’ daughter…people from his home came to let Jairus know that his precious daughter was dead, unknowingly heaping shame upon Jairus’ head with comments like, “You missed her last breaths” and “It was more than anyone could do, even a teacher/healer.” Jesus sees the fear, guilt and grief wash over Jairus and says, Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” (Mk. 5:36) Jesus tells everyone except for Peter, James and John to stay put while continuing on with Jairus to his home. By the time they arrive, the lamenters are already there, working hard and wailing loudly. Jesus claims that the child is not dead but merely asleep, to which the professional mourners laugh at Him. Was Jesus in denial that the little girl was actually dead? Or was He not ready to reveal that He had power to raise the dead to life?

Jesus puts everyone out of the little girl’s bedroom, except for her parents and the three disciples He asked to join Him. He takes the 12-year-old girl by the hand…hold on! Takes her by the hand? In this act, Jesus once again demonstrates that He cannot be made unclean by those He has come to heal…and says, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.” (Mk. 5:41) Immediately, Jairus’ daughter got up and began to walk. Imagine her parents’ joy in having their daughter restored to them! Whatever Jesus asked of them, they were willing to do to thank Him for this indescribable gift. All He asked is that they not tell anyone about what they had just witnessed - that went for Peter, James and John too - and please, get this girl something to eat!

Big Picture Questions for Today:

• Are you confident that God sees you and cares about you? Why or why not?

• What do you wish your parents would have said to you, to remind you of your inherent worth?

• If you are a parent of a daughter or a son, are there ways in which you need to change how you see and interact with these precious gifts? How can you learn from Jesus’ example from today’s stories?

Pray, thanking God for the beautiful way He relates to us as His family. We are His adopted daughters and sons. We are His delight! 

Blessings,

Gay B Brown