Isabella’s mind jerked from her reverie as the 1965 Ford Tempest hit a pothole on the dusty dirt road they had been traveling on for the last half hour. She quickly turned to check on her sleeping daughter in the backseat. For a five-year-old, Emmie was still so petite. Her blonde curly hair lay damp along her cheek. Izzy could hear her moan even while sound asleep on her sister’s lap.
“Mamma, Emmie keeps scratching her feet. She’s going to tear the wrapping off and they’ll start bleeding again.”
Two years older, Lucy remained the perfect big sister. She had stayed right by Emmie through all the hospital visits, doctors appointments, needles, and testing while they tried to find a cure for the terrible skin allergies and lesions that had attacked her baby sisters’ lovely pale skin. Cortisone shots and cream and wrapping the worst areas in plastic wrap while she slept seemed to be the only steps that gave even temporary relief.
Even now in 1965, despite the many new discoveries and advances in the medical field, the doctors had done all they could with no improvement. Emmie needed a miracle. Being a Christian family, Isabella’s faith in God remained strong even through this difficult time. She knew God could heal, yet seeing her child suffer year after year brought a heaviness that only a parent can really understand.
Turning to look at her husband in the driver’s seat, Isabella smiled as she reached over and took his hand. Ken had been her friend, lover, companion and strength over the last 10 years of their marriage. He was her rock here on earth. As he hummed a tune that Izzy was pretty certain he had just written in his head while driving, he looked at her and winked.
“Trust in God, Izzy. He’s never let us down yet. He’ll get us through this valley just like He has the other ones. This evangelist we’re going to see has a gift. I’ve heard that God truly speaks through him and the healing and miracles that take place are real. Not just rumors. None of this fake stuff Izzy!”
His enthusiasm was contagious. Lucy started asking her dad all sorts of questions and smiling for the first time in weeks. As for Isabella, she stared out the window and saw the large tent where the revival would take place for the first time as they rounded the corner on the dirt-packed road.
The dust in the large open field that was being stirred up by all of the cars, was making the air so thick that it looked like smoke. She had to squint to see, and when she did, she was shocked by the throngs of people trying to get inside the enormous tent. How will they ever find a seat, she thought to herself.
As Ken looked for a place to park, she thought back to a story she had heard from the Bible many years ago. A woman who had an issue with blood was very sick. She had spent all of her money on doctors for help. Nothing worked. The woman had heard about a man named Jesus of Nazareth who was in town and the great miracles that had taken place when He spoke or laid hands on the people. The woman knew she had to see this man named Jesus and have him pray for her. Upon arriving, the crowds were so thick that she knew she would never get close enough to get his attention. Desperation overtook her. When you are desperate, you do things you wouldn’t normally do. She pushed through all of the people and literally shoved her way through until she got close enough to see Jesus face. Suddenly someone from behind her shoved her in the back and the woman fell. As she lay on the hard cold ground with hundreds of people clamoring to get close to the Healer, she saw an opening between the legs of people. She crawled on her hands and knees to get closer to the gentle healer. She knew this was her last chance to be well. Through the legs of the local people, the woman happened to see Jesus robe. Continuing to crawl so she could get nearer to the Master as he was called by his followers, she saw that the bottom of his robe was just a few inches from her hand. Reaching out and touching just the hem of his garment, the woman prayed that it would be enough.
It’s recorded that Jesus asked, “Who touched me?”
His disciples told him, “Master, there are hundreds of people here. I’m certain many have touched you.”
Jesus looked at his disciples and said: “I know someone touched me because I felt strength leave me.”
Jesus turned and saw the woman kneeling on the ground near him. She looked at Him and he looked into her eyes. The Bible records that the woman was made whole from that moment on.
Isabella felt her arm being grabbed and swung her head around to see it was Ken telling her it was time to go. They went to the main entrance where they were told that there were no more prayer cards. No prayer card meant they couldn’t join the prayer line. The last one had been given out a few minutes earlier.
As the four of them held hands and tried to find seats, Izzy’s heart sank. The chairs were wooden and looked uncomfortable. The ground was sawdust. The tent was so crowded that they barely found seats. All Izzy could think of was how they had come so far, and now couldn’t even get close enough for the man to lay hands on poor little Emmie. Isabella looked at her family and realized that she was the only one that seemed down in the dumps. Ken was enthusiastically talking to the girls and reminding them that Jesus is the one who takes care of us and how he loves each of them and that He has a perfect and beautiful plan for their lives. Lucy and Emmie were smiling and laughing. Isabella took a deep breath and whispered a prayer of thanks for such a positive, loving husband.
The organist launched into the familiar strains of a hymn, and voices joined in all around us. Emmie wanted to be in her daddy’s arms since she was too short and couldn’t see anything. The song leader announced the speaker for the night, and as we sang the old hymn, “Only Believe” Izzy heard a rustle as people straightened in their seats. Isabella didn’t have a clear view of the platform so she couldn’t see the minister in full; just bits and pieces. Ken reached over and took her hand in his as he strained on his tiptoes to see the minister. Izzy saw a small man with balding hair, a plain suit and holding his Bible close to his heart. As the song Only Believe came to an end, an electric hush seemed to fill the place. For some unknown reason, Izzy felt as if she should close her eyes and bow her head. Vaguely, she kept hearing a little voice asking Ken a question.
“Daddy, is that Jesus? I want to see Jesus. Can you pick me up a little higher daddy?”
Ken did just that. He held her up a little higher. As he did so, he whispered in Emmie’s ear that the man up on the stage was not Jesus, but a man who loved Jesus very much and who would be preaching and praying for the sick.
Emmie seemed perfectly fine with this answer. For a five-year-old, she was amazingly at peace about the whole matter
The next thing Isabella knew, the minister was saying that he wanted to pray for everyone that did not get a prayer card. Ken squeezed her hand and winked at her. She didn’t even remember what the preacher said in his prayer, nor did she remember much about the rest of the service; yet what she knew for certain was from that day forward, Emmie never had any more issues with her skin. She never had to have cortisone shots again. The open, festering sores on her little feet dried up and she never scratched her feet until they bled, again. The only thing left as a reminder were the scars.
Some say it was just a coincidence. Others say it was a miracle. Emmie says that it was Jesus who healed her, and we are all just fine with that.
The End
Pam Torres | Author 