Acts 9:36-42 NIV Version

³⁶ In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. ³⁷ About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. ³⁸ Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

³⁹ Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

I was always so inspired by Tabitha's story!  She was so loved by so many people because of her giving and helping nature-scriptures say she was always doing good and helping the poor.  She was known by both Hebrew (Tabitha) and Greek (Dorcas) names.  I believe she was called both because she helped and was known to both people who spoke Hebrew and those who spoke Greek.  Scholars think she was probably a widow, although the Bible does not say this.  We do know that she ministered to widows who loved her so much that they actually took robes and other clothing that she had made for them when she was alive.   I think it is amazing that she used her gift of being able to sew to touch so many lives that when she died they actually sent two men six-eight miles (most sources I've found say either six or eight miles) to find Peter and bring them to her.  

When they sent for Peter Tabitha was already dead and had been prepared for her funeral.  I'm not sure whether they sent for him to perform a miracle, to help console those who were affected by her death, or to take part in her funeral activities.  I do know that when Peter arrived in Joppa and went to the dwelling he was surrounded by the widows who were crying and showing him the clothes she had made.  I associate this with how we show pictures of our loved ones who have died and talking about their achievements.  

Peter sent all the people away, kneeled down, and prayed.  then he told her to get up.  She opened her eyes and Peter took her by hand and helped her up.  He then showed all the believers especially the widows!  (so often the widows are forgotten or taken for granted I love that they were the first to see this miracle!)

The Lord used Tabitha's death and her miraculous healing by Peter to lead others to believe in Him.  

This Lady did not do awe-inspiring miracles, she did not build people's houses, she was not a princess, she was an ordinary woman who became extraordinary because she used her talents to do good deeds and help others.  The main thing I have taken from this is that it doesn't matter that you don't have much to give, but to those who receive it means everything!  You may be only able to give the gift of your time, or like Tabitha, you can sew, or you can bake/cook, maybe your gift is music, but whatever your gift is I pray that you use it to praise the Lord and share His love with others.