By Ashlee Price
You can find this story in your Bible in Acts 9: 39-42
“Dorcas!”
A little boy called as he ran across the path to meet Dorcas, the most well-known clothing maker in town. “Dorcas,” he cried, “My mother has hurt her hand, and she can’t make any clothes anymore. Please could you help her?” the little boy pleaded with big brown eyes.
Dorcas was a kind woman, who was always willing to help others. She was a follower of Jesus, who had died and risen again only a few years ago.
“Of course, I will definitely help your mother, Cyrus. I’m sorry to hear that she has hurt her hand,” Dorcas answered. “Tell her that I will be happy to make her a new dress.” She smiled warmly, and Cyrus smiled back.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said gratefully. “I will tell her.” He said before running back the way he had come.
Everyone in the town of Joppa knew Dorcas, and everyone who knew her loved her. She always seemed to know who needed help and was always happy to lend a hand wherever she was needed.
When Cyrus reached his home that afternoon, he burst through the door. “Mother!” he cried excitedly, “Dorcas agreed to help you make a new dress!”
His mother who was trying to chop some lettuce with her good hand, while her injured hand was wrapped in a bandage smiled with relief. “Oh honey, that’s wonderful!” she exclaimed. “Praise God for Dorcas. She’s always so kind and willing to help.”
Days passed, and Cyrus and his mother waited anxiously for Dorcas to send word that she had completed the dress. But the only news they got was that Dorcas was very sick.
“Oh no!” Cyrus’ mother sobbed. “Poor Dorcas! She has done so much to help everyone in this village; there must be something we can do to help her.”
Cyrus and his mother walked through the city to Dorcas’ house, so that they could cheer her up with kind words and some flowers that Cyrus had picked from the garden.
When they reached the house, Cyrus saw that Dorcas’ small bedroom was already crowded with local people who had come to visit her and pray for her.
Squeezing into the house they found a spot where they could see Dorcas.
She was lying very still on her bed. Her skin was burning up with fever, and she let out a dreadful cough. Her face looked thin and pale, and Cyrus could tell that she was very sick indeed.
Some women and Dorcas’s sister, who all went to the same church, were weeping loudly beside her bed.
Cyrus couldn’t help it but also began to cry. Dorcas was a very dear friend to him and his mother, especially after Cyrus’ father had died a few years ago.
“Please God,” Cyrus prayed, “help Dorcas. She is so kind and special to all of us. She has helped everyone so much, please heal her.”
Cyrus and his mother gave Dorcas’ sister the bunch of flowers they had picked to give to Dorcas, and then they returned home, where they prayed for Dorcas to get better.
But Dorcas didn’t get better and after a few days they received news that Dorcas had died.
Cyrus and his mother felt a deep sadness filling their hearts. Running to his room he went and laid on his bed, where he cried until his throat hurt. He could hear his mother also crying. Why had God allowed Dorcas to die when she had done and given so much? he thought.
Then news spread through the town that Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, was in the area and so they called for Peter to go to Dorcas’ house and see if he could help her.
Cyrus and his mother again travelled the short distance to Dorcas’ house to see what would happen. The room was crowded again, and Peter carefully made his way to Dorcas’ bedside. He knelt down on the dusty floor and asked all the people to leavethe room.
When everyone was gone, Peter bowed his head and prayed aloud, “Lord, if it is Your will, please bring Dorcas back to life.”
Suddenly, Dorcas’ still form sat up, and the colour returned to her face.
Her bright eyes looked joyfully into the face of Peter, and she asked what had happened. Peter smiled and said, “Dorcas, the Lord Jesus has brought you back from the dead. It was His will for you to be raised to life again, so that you can keep on helping others, and show everyone His love.”
Dorcas’ eyes shone gratefully, and she began to weep tears of happiness, as she hugged Peter, then jumped out of bed running to meet her family and friends who now cried with joy not sadness.
PICTURE CREDIT: FREE BIBLE IMAGES
