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The Healing

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 17, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 30.

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The Healing

By L. Adelaide Sherman

AMONG the crowd that thronged the Master’s way, As slowly waned the glowing Syrian day, There came a woman, weary, faint, and weak, With faltering steps, pale lips, and hollow cheek. Long had she suffered, long had sought for health,— In the vain search had lavished all her wealth,— Yet from these efforts no relief she gained. Failing in each, one hope alone remained.
In her despair strange rumors she had heard Of One who cleansed the leper with a word; From power of evil set demoniac free, And caused the deaf to hear, the blind to see. She said, “This Prophet strength and health can give; I need but touch his garment’s hem, and live.”
She watched his coming — waited for the hour; For one last effort rallied all her power; And as the fast-increasing crowd passed on, She with them stood, unnoticed and unknown, Drew near to him, amid the throng and press, Raised her thin hands, and touched his seamless dress.
A sudden thrill ran all her pulses through, Her languid body throbbed with life anew, In her pale cheek the roseate blush grew bright, Her eye, long dimmed, beamed with her soul’s delight; In all her limbs the healthful current’s swell Proclaimed to her the truth that she was well.
Yet timid, shrinking, fearing to be seen, Knowing herself impure, her touch unclean, And daring not to breathe her cure aloud, She sought again concealment in the crowd, Yet sought in vain — he, who had power to heal, Knew all the truth, which she would fain conceal.
His voice restrained her, when she would have fled; She scanned his face, saw nothing there to dread, And at his feet, in gratitude and fear, Sobbed forth her story, in his pitying ear. This let me come to thee, thou Crucified, In trust sincere, when life’s great ills betide; And when the heaviest burdens on me press, O, give me faith to touch thy seamless dress!
— L. Adelaide Sherman, in Zion’s Herald.