An Evangelist like Tabitha
My mother-in-law was an ordinary woman; a supply teacher, a good friend, a loving wife and mother. Ordinary, yes, but not unremarkable. I’d been fortunate to experience her gentle kindness, her determination, her understanding and her generosity, but it was her funeral where the truth of this was really made clear to me. We filled the medium sized room of her church (plus the overflow room) with her family and friends; people she’d known growing up and those she’d met fairly recently, kids she’d taught in schools but more who knew her from the town-wide holiday club she’d organised for years. Each of them had their stories about Joy; how she’d supported them when they needed help, the cakes and cards she’d delivered to say thanks (in at least one case when she’d been the one to do the favour!) and how she’d lived up to her name by bringing joy to so many others.
It puts me in mind of another funeral, one reported in Acts 9. Peter is called to Tabitha’s funeral, most likely on the same day she dies. The church is devastated to have lost this woman, but as far as we can tell she’s just an ordinary woman; she had no wealth worth mentioning, possibly no close relatives to miss her, she worked no miracles and gave no rousing sermons. We’re told only two things about her: she’s also known as Dorcas (the Greek version of Tabitha), and she’d made robes and other clothing for the widows.
Tabitha was kind and generous, using her time and money to create for widows who wouldn’t be able to pay her back, who didn’t have others to care for them. She understood their needs and was obviously appreciated for it. It doesn’t take a great leap of imagination to see Tabitha using these skills to reach out to those outside the church as well. She’s obviously kind, caring and notices those who are in need - and none of us is ever more in need of anything than a saviour! She’s also known by both an Aramaic name and a Greek one, one of the few New Testament people of whom this is mentioned, perhaps because she went by both in different contexts to be all things to all people and reach out to others in a way they felt comfortable with. Something that was very much appreciated by those around her and that God decided would make her useful on earth for a while longer.
Joy was an evangelist like Tabitha, both of them using good deeds to reflect the character and love of Jesus to those around them. I don’t often use the word ‘winning’ in this context, but how winning these two women, and others like them, are: with the integrity of character that means their actions and evangelism match, the generosity of spirit that mirrors our God and a deep joy in sharing. In Joy’s case she’d be sharing love, the good news and delicious chocolate cake.
