If Only

She searched her handbag yet another time

Not a dollar, not a quarter, not even a dime,

Just another day and just another hour

There was no one from whom she could borrow.

“What else can I do?” she often thought

And her memory made her even more distraught,

No cure was in sight; she was unclean

Every single day brought back the same old scene.

To whom could she turn; there was not a soul,

Everyone kept away; unclean she was told,

Couldn’t even go to church; that was a no-no

The Bible suggests to me that this was so.

“What have I done to deserve this disease?

Why for twelve years have I had no ease?

Why have the doctors taken every red cent?

Why this heavy load under which I am bent?”

Twelve long years, can’t any understand?

She once had much money and a life plan

But disease struck and all went down hill

Money is gone and disease troubling her still.

If it were I I know what I would do-

Everybody has an opinion; everyone a view,

Until it comes to our door we can parade

But after the fact we never make the grade.

Her hemorrhaging was like a sin sick curse,

Whatever she tried it grew worse and worse

Till she was barred from her community,

It was unlawful for her to mix with society.

I could imagine the doctor’s fancy talk

As she visited repeatedly hardly able to walk,

Money hemorrhaging as going down a drain

And her flow of blood doing just the same.

About the solution all her doctors were vague

But they took her money to add to her plague,

Her fountain just flowed and flowed the more

But none would say, “Mam, there’s no cure.”

As you could imagine the money dried up,

No free medical attention, she was out of luck,

No one came near to even give her a buck

Terribly sad but true, hers was a bitter cup.

And just when it seemed there was no hope in sight

Somewhere in her tunnel there shone a light,

She heard the news of a great physician

And right there and then made life’s best decision.

“I must see him, I must see him; I really must

Though I am well aware how society will fuss,

The law won’t stand in my way or the people,

Nothing will stop me from receiving this miracle.

With a determination buoyed by her faith

To the Great Physician she made great haste,

As best as she could in her debilitating circumstance

She made sure she would not miss her chance.

The crowd was huge; they always were,

Wherever Jesus travelled there was a quite stir,

This was a challenge but she was not deterred,

As great as the crowd was, her focus was not blurred.

If only she could work her way beyond this obstacle,

Beyond the swelling crowd beyond the people,

If only she could get past their accusing glare

Something in her soul told her this physician cared.

He seemed different from the ones she had attended,

On them both money and effort had been expended,

But the reviews were good and so she believed

“If only I could touch him a miracle I would receive.”

“If only I could touch the hem of his coat,” she thought,

Pause for a moment; imagine the thrill that brought,

And so bending low through the crowd she fought

Until she encountered the object her eyes had sought

“There it is, if only I could just stretch a little more

I just believe that for me a miracle is in store.”

So she extended her hand till groping fingers reached

Touching the physician’s coat and triggering his speech.

“Who touched my clothes?” she had heard him say

Much to the disciples’ amazement on that given day,

What a strange question to ask given the press

But the woman knew it was her whom Jesus addressed.

She came forward trembling but told him the truth,

Something great had happened; she had the proof,

The fountain of blood had dried up; she was now healed,

She had encountered Jesus; to her he had been revealed.

Her miracle had been wrought; she was satisfied,

She now stood upright; she no longer had to hide,

Virtue had left Jesus and her bleeding had gone,

The Great Physician had ushered in her new dawn.

If only someone would call on Jesus today

He would fix your sin issue and show you the way,

Bent you would come with your heavy issue of sin

But upright you would be if you give your heart to him.

Such faith would make you whole; you’d be at peace,

Your sin fountain would dry up; it would instantly cease,

Jesus would be on board; your life’s ship he’d steer,

Why not make that decision now? Devil’s Reef is near!

Satan is bleeding you like those physicians of old,

Already you know that he has done damage untold,

If only you’d come to Jesus; don’t be fearful, be bold

You’d get healing for the body and find rest for your soul.

Stewart Russell © 2016