Chaplain Lynne writes:

There is a story in the Bible that reflects a woman with what may have been unrecognized grief and trauma.

We don’t even know her name, …

All we know is she had been bleeding for twelve years and that all of her money had been spent on physicians who had not helped her.

Culturally, she was an outcast and neglected, considered unclean, and that status would have left her lonely, poor, and isolated. While she battled the grief and agony of her disease, she would have also been deep in sorrow for the life she longed for.

Grieving…, surviving daily with unrecognized trauma.

I imagine her. Isolated in a room. Alone in her sorrow. Was there a window? A bed? Did anyone ever check in on her?

As a chaplain, we know that Grief is not an experience reserved for death. It’s the human response to loss. And our sister, bleeding for twelve years, had lost so much.

My Bible tells me in Matthew 9:21, she thought, “If I just touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed.”

Faith. It’s what motivated her. Faith rooted in Hope and covered in courage.

She reached for Him. The Bible tells us, “Jesus immediately felt power leave Him, and He turned. Looking for her. “Who touched me?” he asked. I imagine His voice was gentle. The ears of my heart hear His love. He knew who touched Him. He always knows. His eyes met hers as He combed the crowd for His hurting child. Others may not have seen her sorrow. But Jesus did. He knows grief when He sees it. And then, after a brief exchange, Jesus heals her and sets her free. In a beautiful display of compassion and kindness, Jesus calls her “Daughter.”

Formerly nameless, isolated, grieving her pain and the place it now put her in society… on that day, He called her Daughter. Because he took the moment to be “with” her, her life changed.

Because that’s what He does. He sees us, gives us a new name, and sets us free. Whatever we’ve been through, God has time for us. Whatever hard story and painful history we carry, there is healing.

How many of the people that we encounter day to day are living with unrecognized grief? Undisclosed trauma?

Chaplain, are you turning to look to see who needs to be supported and to be recognized?

Can you be present for them? When they step out in courage to reach out to you, will you meet them with hope, compassion and patience? Will you be “with” them?

“For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ ” ~ Matthew 9:21 NKJV