Tabitha by Jeff Cavins

While
a pastor, before his reversion back to the Church, Jeff Cavins became a player
in a tragic story involving a 13-year-old and an accidental killing. He had no
idea how he could help to her, so he asked Jesus, “What would you do?”

Driving down the street headed for the Dairy Queen one afternoon, I could
not get Tabitha out of my mind. The tragedy of this young girl’s life played on
my mind much like a repetitive song that relentlessly repeats a chorus refusing
to leave the brain.

Everyone in Dayton, Ohio where I was working as a pastor at the time, was
talking about Tabitha. Although a mere 13-years-old, she had been
arrested for the murder of another teenage girl. But this was no
cold-blooded murderer. Tabitha wanted nothing more than to put an end to
the other girl’s bullying of repeatedly hitting Tabitha on the head with a
brick. When the harassment only got worse, Tabitha went to her older
brother for help.

“The next time she tries it,” big brother advised, “Run into the house and
get a steak knife. Then, pretend you are going to stab her but just tap
her on the shoulder with it. That will scare her and she’ll leave you
alone.”

When the bullying occurred once again, Tabitha followed her brother’s
instructions. But as she aimed the knife just above the other girl’s
shoulder, it accidentally pierced the juggler vein. With blood spurting
out, the injured girl ran screaming down the street. Before she reached the end
of the second block, she fell down dead.

The police were called and immediately arrested Tabitha, who was in shock
and offered no resistance. It was a story that the local news
sensationalized for days. The immense tragedy of this accident and its
horrifying result on not one, but two victims–the bully and the
bullied–played on the minds of an entire community. “What a shame,”
everybody said. “How sad.”

I was in the business of offering comfort and guidance, but here I was
feeling just as inadequate as the next person. The sadness was overwhelming and
my helplessness stung bitterly.

As I drove along, Tabitha consumed my thoughts. Unable to shake it
off, I pulled my car to the side of the road and sat contemplating the enormity
of it all. I wondered, if Jesus was in my place, what could He possibly
do to help in this situation. “Lord, what would you do if you were
here?” I prayed.

Deep from within my heart I heard these words: “If I was there, I would go
down to her prison, wrap my arms around her and say, ‘I love you, I love you.’”
The answer was so clear. As a Christian, I am the body of Christ; I am
His arms, His legs, His hands…His voice.

“Lord, if that’s what you want me to do, I will do it,” I prayed. I
turned the car around and headed back into downtown Dayton. Once I found
the jail, I walked up to the front desk. “My name is Jeff Cavins and I
want to see Tabitha,” I announced to a surprised guard.

“No one is allowed to see her,” the guard responded and then paused and
gave me a funny look. “Did you say you are Jeff Cavins?”

“Yes” I answered.

“Did you lead an Emmaus Cursillo retreat for women a couple of weeks ago?”

Again I answered: “Yes.”

A big smile crossed his face. “My wife went on that retreat and
her life has been changed.” He thought a moment and then handed me a
pen. “Here, sign this and I’ll take you to see her.”

We walked down a stark corridor to an empty jail where I was instructed
to wait while he went to get Tabitha. At that moment, the enormity of my
actions hit me. Only 15 minutes earlier I was on my way to get an ice
cream cone. Now, here I was, nervously sitting in a jail cell. When
the door creaked open, in walked a petite little girl, trembling with
fear. I later learned she thought I was there to take her to
prison.

As I looked into her scared brown eyes, I stepped toward her.
“Tabitha, my name is Jeff and I was driving down the road thinking about you
today. I asked the Lord what He would want me to do about you.”
Then, I walked over to her and put my arms around her. “Tabitha,” I
whispered. “From Jesus: I love you so much.” She cried and I
held her. I sensed that I had truly touched her by reaching out and
loving someone who the world had discarded.

Tabitha stepped back and opened her hand to reveal a small, crumpled
piece of paper. She unraveled it and showed me a Christian tract about
accepting Jesus as your savior and asking Him into your life.

“I prayed this last night,” Tabitha said. “And here you are
today.”

Jesus had come to put His arms around her and say, “Tabitha, I love
you.”

Realizing the Lord had used me to touch this young girl’s life was
very emotional. Although everyone in Columbus knew about Tabitha, no one
had come to visit. It made me think: What good is it to be the body
of Christ unless we are going to act like the body of Christ. If we would
simply act like the body of Christ–be His arms, His legs, His voice–lives
would change. Christ is looking to us to do His work if we will simply yield to
His will and take the risk of loving others. Once we do that, at any hour
on any day, even on the way to the Dairy Queen, Jesus can use us.

This story is from the book, Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart. Jeff Cavins is an internationally known
speaker and author. Jeff is the creator of The Great Adventure: A Journey Through the Bible,
an interactive program that helps people read the “big picture” of God’s plan
in Sacred Scripture.
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