This is Talitha. She is the most precious thing you have ever laid eyes on. She is also my youngest grandchild, so far. Picking her up and holding her is one of my chief pleasures in this world. Until recently it has been a bit of a challenge because she is very attached to her mother, my wonderful daughter in law. She still prefers to be held by her mom or her grandmother (Mimi), but I am winning her over. On a recent beach vacation she consented to walk with me on the beach. We did not go far, her steps are very small, but it felt like a victory to me.
She has a funny way of repeating the last word of every sentence I say to her, like some little blond autistic parrot. It would be easy for me to teach her how to swear like a marine, but alas, her parents would never forgive me. (nor would I forgive myself, ha) Her piercing blue eyes look as if God cut two diamonds out of the sky and gave them to my family so we would always be able to see Heaven. When she looks at me I would do anything for her; whether facing down a hoard of goblins, or diving to the bottom of the sea to bring her treasure. Her mother shared a video of Tally telling me happy birthday. The first two words were said with a big smile. They were wrong, but perfect. “Happy Jimdad!” Happy Jimdad, indeed.
Everything about her is a delight, including her name. Talitha is an Aramaic word meaning “little girl” or “little lamb”. It comes from the Gospel of Mark in what may be the most moving scene in all history. A twelve-year-old girl has died. Jesus comes to the house to find professional mourners making a commotion, he informs them that the girl is only asleep, which of course is God’s perspective. They laugh at him, so he kicks them out of the house. He then brings the grieving parents and a few of his disciples into the room where the body is lying. He takes her by the hand and says “Talitha cumi” which means “little girl, arise”. She gets up and he gives her back to her parents.
It is a very simple story. I love the miracles of the New Testament because they are so simple, so unadorned. Fire does not fly from the fingertips of Jesus; there are no sparks, no incantations, no mumbo-jumbo. He does not even pray. Jesus simply kneels by the bed of a dead girl, takes her hand and says “Honey, it’s time to get up.” Like a father waking a child from a nap. If we tried to write that script we could only screw it up.
I cannot say the name of my granddaughter without seeing the simple majesty of her Savior. The ramifications of this one word are bewildering. The endless beauty of it. Her name mocks the darkness that is all around us. Her innocent charm is a rebuke to all that accuses us as humans. She is a defiant signpost, a shout, that says in spite of all we see in this world, God loves children, and he wants them to be alive. Her name is a promise. Her eyes are a reminder to me that Heaven is always within reach to us but “unless you turn and become like a little child, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” My wish for her is to be able to see Heaven with those eyes every day of her life.
Talitha, I know you will not read this for many years; but I love you little lamb. I pray for you every day. I pray that your life will be even more charmed than mine has been. It already is because I can see that Jesus has already taken you by the hand. I pray that you will never let go of him. Because he has been to the bottom of the sea for you, and he has already faced all the goblins for you. Trust Him.
“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40