Tabitha | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Tabitha | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
04/04/25
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

It was a lovely Spring morning. Tabitha decided to take a walk down to the sea and visit with Simon the Tanner. She had a few questions to ask of him. Her garment business was doing very well and she had longed to have him make a saddle which she intended to give to her brother for his birthday. Simon was the best tanner for miles around, and he was also her trusted friend.

As she approached Joppa she spotted Simon by the sea. “Hi, Simon” Tabitha waved as she approached. “Beautiful day isn’t it?”

“Tabitha,” smiled Simon. What brings you to my home today?”

“I came to see how you are doing on the saddle I requested of you for my brother.”

“All is going well. I should have it done by the end of next week. Come, Tabitha,” Simon said. “Come to my house for some tea where we can talk without eyes watching us.”

An hour later Tabitha was on her way home. The walk was easy, a mere fifteen minutes away. Before she reached her door an excruciating headache developed. “Oh my,” cried Tabitha. “What is happening? My eyes. They…..they…..” And with those words she collapsed on the road.

Her neighbor Tasha had been watching out her window and saw Tabitha fall. She came running out crying “Tabitha! Tabitha! Are you okay?”

Tabitha did not answer.

Tabitha did not move.

Tabitha lay perfectly still.

“Oh no,” whispered Tasha. She gentle poked Tabitha to see if she would stir.

She did not.

“Help!” Cried Tasha. “I need your help over here. Something is wrong with Tabitha.”

Soon men and women came running from their homes to see what they could do. Two men gently carried Tabitha into her home and lay her on her bed. The women gathered around crying for their dear friend who had been such an important pillar of the community.

“Is….is….she dead?” Sobbed Rhoda.

“It seems so,” lamented Tasha, as tears coursed down her own weathered cheeks.

It didn’t take long for word to reach the entire village of Joppa and soon Simon was at her bedside as well.

“Oh Tabitha,” sobbed Simon. “What happened my sweet child? You were fine not more than a hour ago. Ladies, please wash her and prepare her for burial,” said Simon as he wiped away tears from his eyes.

Simon had heard that morning that Peter was staying in Lydda, a mere nine miles away. “Asa,” he summoned. Go to Lydda and bring Peter back with you. Perhaps he can do something for our dear sister Tabitha.

Asa and Elias ran the nine miles to Lydda in search of Peter. Seeing him in the distance they both started yelling to get his attention.

“Peter!”

“PE…TER!”

“Come quick. We need your help.”

“What is it my dear friends. Why are you so excited,” asked a bewildered Peter

“It’s Tabitha,” Asa said. “She’s dead.”

“Dead? How can that be. What happened?” Asked a stunned Peter.

“We don’t know. She had visited the home of Simon the Tanner and on the way home collapsed and died. We need your help.”

Upon entering the home, he found the widows weeping uncontrollably, embracing the garments that Tabitha made.

“Go outside, all of you,” Peter gently commanded.

Then he knelt by her bedside and prayed. “Tabitha, arise.”

Tabitha opened her eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up. Peter took her hand and helped her to stand.

Peter went to the doorway and summoned all the widows to come to Tabitha’s room. There, before them, stood an alive-and-well Tabitha.

Another round of tears were falling, but these were happy tears. Their dear friend and sister was alive. Those who once doubted in the power of the Lord came to believe that day.

Simon approached Peter, put his arms around him, and said, “Well done, my friend. You and God did a wonderful miracle here today. If you have no place to stay I’d be honored if you would come to my home for a few days. That is, if you don’t mind the smell.”

Both men laughed. “What could be worse, my friend?” Asked Peter. “The smell that comes from your tanning business or the smell that comes from my fishing business. Both can be daunting at times.”

At this, even the other men from Joppa laughed.

The men left the home of Tabitha knowing she was in good hands.

These women loved her.

Story from Acts 9:36-43

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.