A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly
jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change
out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even.
The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for 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 miracle you need."
That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing
in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of 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 In our lives,
we never know how many miracles we will need. 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 who means something to you!
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. Today I pass the friendship
ball to you. Pass it 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
Signed: GOD