>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 goo! d. 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!
>
>"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 c ircle, 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