HOW MUCH FOR A MIRACLE
Tess was a precocious eight year old. She heard her Mom and Dad
talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was
very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an
apartment complex next month because Daddy didn’t have the money for
the doctor’s bills and our house.
Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like
there was no-one to loan them the money. She heard Daddy say to her
tearful Mother with whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can
save him now."
Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding
place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and
counted it carefully. Three times, mistakes. Carefully placing
the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped
out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall’s
Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the
door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some
attention but he was too busy at this moment.
Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise.
Nothing.
She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster.
No good.
Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass
counter.
That did it!
"And what do you want?" The pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of
voice. "I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in
ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.
"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother", Tess answered back in
the same annoyed tone. "He’s really, really sick . . . and I want to
buy a miracle."
"I beg your pardon?" Said the pharmacist.
"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head
and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a
miracle cost?"
"We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help
you," the pharmacist said, softening a little.
"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get
the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."
The pharmacist’s brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and
asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"
"I don’t know", Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know
he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy
can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money."
"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.
"One dollar and eleven cents", Tess answered barely audibly. "And it’s
all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."
"Well, what a coincidence", smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven
cents-the exact price of a miracle for little brothers."
He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her
mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother
and meet your parents.
Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need."
That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon,
specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed without
charge and it wasn ’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led
them to this place. "That surgery", her Mom whispered, "was a
real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost . . . one dollar
and eleven cents . . . plus the faith of a little child.
A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a
higher law......
I know you’ll keep the ball moving! Here it goes. Throw it back to
someone else who means something to you!
The Friendship Ball
A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end.
It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends.
But the treasure inside for you to see
Is the treasure of friendship you’ve granted to me.
You are requested to pass this on to someone who is
a friend to you.
MY OATH TO YOU...
When you are sad . . . I will dry your tears.
When you are scared . . . I will comfort your fears.
When you are worried . . . I will give you hope.
When you are confused . . . I will help you cope.
And when you are lost . . . And can’t see the light.
I shall be your beacon . . . Shining ever so bright
This is my oath . . . I pledge till the end.
Why you may ask? . . . Because you’re my friend
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
This great background artwork is created by
Danny Hahlbohm. Stop in and be inspired. You can download this background as email stationary while you're there!
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