🌺Tabitha

Hello family! 🌸 First of all, I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to check up on me. I’m doing well now praise the Lord! 🙌 Thank you for all your love, care, and prayers.

We’re continuing with our study on women in Scripture, and very soon I’ll be creating a study plan in PDF format which I’ll upload on my website. It will be a resource to help you study deeper into the Word and grow in knowledge and understanding. Today, we’re looking at Tabitha, also known as Dorcas. And if you’re thinking, “Who’s that?” well, you’re just about to find out! 😉

“There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.”

Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭9‬:‭36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the book of Acts, we find the story of Tabitha (Dorcas). It’s such a short story, yet so rich in meaning. The very first things we learn about her are her name and her impact. She wasn’t just Tabitha by name , she was Tabitha, known for kindness. She was Tabitha, known for helping the poor.

That makes me pause and ask: What am I known for? What are you known for? Apart from where you work or the title you hold, is there a testimony of your character? Think about it: when people talk about you, the mention of your name carries weight. They describe your attitude, your heart, and the way you made them feel.

Because let’s be honest, at funerals, people lie. They say nice things to comfort the family, but often they’re not the truth. Sometimes all they can mention is where the person was employed: “Oh, James worked at Absa.” But what kind of person was he? When they see that he wasn’t a good person they start to tell people about a James that is totally different from the one everyone knew.

With Tabitha it was different. She was remembered for her impact on the community. She was not ignorant of people’s struggles she cared enough to step in. She used what she had to help those around her. How many situations could you have solved, but didn’t? How many people could you have helped, but instead said, “Someone else will do it. I’m not the only person in the world!” How many lives could’ve been lighter with you in the picture, but instead, they remained heavy? And when they cried out to God, God was like , “But l put Vanessa in your life for that reason.”

While we’re still on this, let me highlight something important. One-sided kindness is the reason why many kind people eventually stop. Some people only know how to take, and they never reciprocate. As we study the life of Tabitha, you’ll realise that reciprocated kindness matters. All the people who consistently show up for you may eventually grow tired if you’ve never even taken time to do something in return.

My mom is often a victim of this. She will go all out for people, but on the other side, there’s nothing just empty space. If you live like that, not remembering those who helped you, it’s only a matter of time before you find yourself living a very lonely life. Kindness doesn’t mean people should tolerate anything. If you cannot reciprocate it, you may never experience it again.

Ask yourself: What has been done for me? How can I show the same kindness to that person? How can I show my gratitude to God for all He has done for me? Think about these things. Don’t wear people out of their kindness toward you. Instead, cultivate a principle of give and take, take and give. That’s the heart of true community.

The very next verse tells us that this wonderful woman, Tabitha, became ill and sadly, it ended in death. Her body was washed, prepared for burial, and laid in an upper room. And you may ask, “But why would that happen to such a kind person?” Maybe you thought only wicked people end up in hospital. But that’s not how life works. At some point, we will all face death unless, of course, we rapture on the 24th! 😂 All the best with that, my darling.

But listen: Tabitha, with all her goodness and generosity, still got sick. I want to pull us out of the entitlement mentality where we throw tantrums at God saying, “But I’m a good person, why am I going through this?” Don’t forget Jesus was the best person who ever lived, yet He also suffered.

Being good does not exempt us from the troubles of life. I know many good people who are in pain right now. Some have died. Some can’t even put food on the table. Some don’t know how they’ll make it to the end of this year. And yet, they are kind, selfless, and loving. You may say, “But I’m a Christian!” Yes even so, life can still get hard. And often we compare: “Why me? Why not my aunt? She’s not nice, yet she’s living her best life.” But again, life doesn’t always work that way.

Our good deeds are precious, and they matter, but they don’t guarantee a trouble-free journey. Tabitha was kind, yet she still fell sick. And I’m sure people prayed, pleaded, and reminded God of all her kindness but still, she died. Sometimes, what happens to the wicked also happens to the good. But that doesn’t mean we should stop doing good.

Let’s meet again tomorrow. Remember, if you’d like to support my blog, you can click the link below. Also, let your friends know that I do counselling , slots are live on the same website.

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Have a blessed day further and above all, be kind. 🌸