Dorcas Isn't Dead -- Or Is She?

Amy Jones
Some time ago, maybe in the last few years, I had a little daydream about Dorcas. (‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:39-40‬)

All we know about Dorcas is that she was “full of good works and charitable deeds,” that she made clothes, that she became sick and died, and that Peter, full of the Spirit, called her back to life.

At the time of my little daydream, I wasn’t doing much by way of “good works and charitable deeds”—still working on those—but I was crafty. I loved to work with yarn, thread, and fabric. If you were in my family, you could expect something crocheted, knitted, or stitched for Christmas from me every year, whether you wanted it or not. Anyway, I had a little vision that I, like Dorcas, had passed away, and people were showing each other the gifts I had made for them.

Enter the year 2020.

In early 2020 I started experiencing numbness in the fingers of my right hand. By late June I was having trouble lifting my right leg. What seemed like a pinched nerve in March turned out, by summer, to be a 4x3x4 cm benign brain tumor.

I had that removed in July and was on the road to recovery when I developed staph meningitis in my brain. My brain was so infected that I felt like fireworks were going off in my skull, and my right arm went totally dead.  

Yep, I was dying.

But you prayed, we prayed, God stayed with me the whole time, and I’m still here.

Or am I?
I’m no longer the old Dorcas, physically, mentally, or emotionally. I don’t knit, crochet, or sew, partially because doing so is painful and no longer fun, but also because I’m no longer interested in those things (after 30+ years of Hobby Lobby sprees, that’s a pretty weird statement, but true). You probably won’t be receiving many handmade gifts from me from now on, or at least for a good while. You can show each other the things I made while that version of me was with you, but unless Christ heals me like He did the man with the withered hand, my handicraft days are over.

You may have just read that last part and thought, “She doesn’t believe in miracles.”

Oh, I do. You see, while I may no longer crochet you a hat or a blanket, I may send you a message of encouragement, or actually talk to you and listen, or think about you, or pray for you. I’ve changed. I’ve never loved Jesus more. I’ve never loved you more.

I’ve never better understood the awesome setup Christ made by sacrificing Himself, making priests, the Temple and the heavy veil unnecessary.

So while, for now, I am brain damaged and can’t do the things I used to do, and while I do get frustrated sometimes, I know I’ve experienced miracles. He saved my life in every way. I’m different. He’s given me new skills and interests that I believe will contribute to His kingdom far better than the old ones did.

Yes, Dorcas was dead, but she’s been recalled to life. Now, let’s see what comes next!
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1 Comment


Kara Colburn - July 26th, 2021 at 9:29am

Amy, this is just beautiful. The way you make Him famous through your struggle...such a beautiful reflection of His glory in your life. ❤️

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