THE COST

Tess was a precocious eight-year-old when she heard her Mom andDad talking about her little brother, Andrew.All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completelyout of money. They were moving to an apartment complex nextmonth because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor's billsand their house. Only a very costly surgery could save him nowand it was looking like there was no one to loan them the money.She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispereddesperation, "Only a miracle can save him now."Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from itshiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out onthe 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 thecap, she slipped out the backdoor and made her way 6 blocks toRexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above thedoor.She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her someattention, 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 couldmuster.No good.Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on theglass counter.That did it!"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed toneof voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom Ihaven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply tohis question."Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answeredback 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 hishead and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now, so howmuch does a miracle cost?""We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry, but Ican'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 justknow 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 Ineed to."Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man."A dollar and eleven cents, exact price of a miracle for littlebrothers."He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he graspedher 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 longuntil Andrew was home again and doing well.Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events thathad 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... onedollar 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.