I am creating a series of art and poems based on the words Jesus spoke to women. This poem is based on the account of Jesus’ conversation with a Canaanite woman with a demon-possessed daughter found in Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30.

my fragile daughter
a frayed sail in endless squalls
me, her anchor

casting hope
on every idol
crushed by idle indifference

a foreign woman in a border town
is unmoored,
useless as a stray dog

I hear the healing Teacher
has come to town
and I go without delay

loud and unrelenting
for even strays
can howl

“Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David!
My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!”

his efficient friends
move to make quick work
of the healing–or of me

“I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Lord, help me! I call out.

“It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

but even stray crumbs
make a meal
for a hungry pet

“Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.”

I return to my daughter
now stilled and resting
her anchor dropped

and we breathe in
for the first time
the quiet

little did I know
happy as I was
with crumbs

that the Healer was preparing
a bigger table
himself the bread and the water

COPYRIGHT/USAGE: All writing, artwork and photos are copyright Marydean Draws. Please do not repost or resell on another website. I’m happy for you to use my coloring pages and other printables for home, school, and ministry. If you share content, please link back to the original post. Thank you!

Acknowledgment to these sources for help:
Skye Jethani’s post about “I got to prepare a place for you” from the With God Daily devotional app
This article: https://bible.org/seriespage/23-faith-canaanite-woman-matthew-1521-28

jesus speaks to women