The $1.11 Medical Miracle

Sally was only eight years old when she heard Mommy and Daddy talking about her little brother, Georgi. He was very sick and they had done everything they could afford to save his life. Only a very expensive surgery could help him now . . . and that was out of the financial question. She heard Daddy say it with a whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now."

Sally went to her bedroom and pulled her piggybank from its hiding place in the closet. She shook all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Tying the coins up in a cold-weather-kerchief, she slipped out of the apartment and made her way to the corner drug store.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her attention.... but he was too busy talking to another man to be bothered by an eight-year-old. Sally twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. She cleared her throat. No good. Finally she took a quarter from its hiding place 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."

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Sally answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's sick . . . and I want to buy a miracle." "I beg your pardon," said the pharmacist. "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 can't help you."

"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. Just tell me how much it costs."

The well-dressed man stooped down and asked, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?" "I don't know," Sally answered. A tear started down her cheek."I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my folks can't pay for it . . . so I have my money.

"How much do you have?" asked the well-dressed man. "A dollar and eleven cents," Sally answered proudly. "And it's all the money I have in the world."

"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the well-dressed man. A dollar and eleven cents . . . the exact price of a miracle to save a little brother. 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." That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, renowned surgeon.... Specializing in solving Georgi's malady. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long until Georgi was home again and doing well. Mommy and Daddy were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. "That surgery," Mommy whispered. "It's like a miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?

Sally smiled to herself. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents... plus the faith of a little child.

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 27, 2000

Answers

Aint,

Thanks for this one too! My spirit needed a lift and you made it happen. True or not, we need to keep hope alive.

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), April 27, 2000.

Sunday school story. Once you know the formula, you can knock 'em out by the hundreds.

What I find very strange in this story is the money paid to buy the miracle. Money is deep, deep in our bones these days. Parting with it is now a spiritual act.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), April 27, 2000.

Brian,

I'm amazed that you don't need your asbestos tightie whities more often!

-- flora (***@__._), April 27, 2000.

I heard this smarmy tale many years ago. It was London then, the girl's name was Betsy, the cost was threepence, and the doctor was Sir William Goodspirit.

In the 15th century, in Venice, the girl was Floria, the cost was two florins, and the doctor was the local barber, Gulliermo.

-- (incredulous@but.happy), April 27, 2000.

incredulous@but.happy

"It was London then, the girl's name was Betsy, the cost was threepence"

If Jesus' name was George or Ralph instead of Jesus, would that strengthen or weaken your faith in Him? My guess is no.

Do you think your ridicule will change the meaning behind the story of 'The $1.11 Medical Miracle' regardless of the names it has gone by in the past? All you have done is prove that some people aren't happy unless they are actively trying to make others lives as miserable as their own for no apparent reason.

How sad.

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 27, 2000.

Nice fantasy story, Not Gonna Happen. It pulls all the right heart strings. Just like your pictures of dismembered aborted babies in the abortion thread.

I accept your thread for what it is, an emotional, irrational feel good story. With no rational debate value, though.

-- (y@x.x), April 27, 2000.

Aint,

What if Jesus had been a black prostitute from Ethiopia?

Would that strengthen or weaken your faith in Her?

-- (incredulous@but.happy), April 27, 2000.

"I accept your thread for what it is, an emotional, irrational feel good story."

Glad ya liked it!

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 27, 2000.

"What if Jesus had been a black prostitute from Ethiopia?"

Whether Jesus was male, female, black, white, red, green or yellow makes no difference.

Jesus could never have been a prostitute though.

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 27, 2000.

Ain't, he may live in the hearts of some prostitutes... After all, he forgave them, along with forgiving everyone else.

-- He (lives@everywhere.com), April 27, 2000.

He

"Ain't, he may live in the hearts of some prostitutes... "

He lives in the hearts of any and all who will welcome Him into their hearts/lives.

"After all, he forgave them, along with forgiving everyone else."

He provides the means for forgiveness. Each one of us must earnestly want and ask for His forgiveness individually. Once you have asked for His forgiveness you must be willing to repent of the things in your life that have kept you away from building a personal relationship with Him. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Forgiveness is a lot like sending in a manufacturer's cash rebate form. You can't get the cash rebate (forgiveness) until you ask for it. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 28, 2000.