Tutsan

This tutsan I found growing in our chapel garden. Its name comes from the French phrase tout-saine, which means ‘heal-all’, and refers to the plant’s reputation as a go-to source of wide-ranging folk medicine.

Much to the charlatan preachers' shame and earnest sufferer’s disappointment, the Lord Jesus does not promise to heal our every sickness in this life, nor to remove every obstacle, hindrance and opponent. When we fully enter His kingdom, however, all shall be healed. Currently, we receive salvation and additional tokens of His grace and love; when we go to join Him, all shall be healed and restored, for ever.

Heal us, Immanuel, here we are,
Waiting to feel thy touch;
Deep-wounded souls to thee repair,
And, Saviour, we are such.

Our faith is feeble, we confess;
We faintly trust thy word;
But wilt thou pity us the less?
Be that far from thee, Lord.

Remember him who once applied,
With trembling for relief;
Lord, I believe with tears he cried,
O help my unbelief.

She, too, who touched thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole,
Was answered, "Daughter, go in peace;
Thy faith hath made thee whole."

Like her, with hopes and fears we come,
To touch thee, if we may;
O send us not despairing home;
Send none unhealed away.

-Wm Cowper