A Dozen Red Roses

Tess was a precious eight year old when 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 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, 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 you 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......

(A TRUE STORY)

I found this on the internet at and thought it was good for sharing