Momento Espírita
Curitiba, 22 de Dezembro de 2024
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ícone How much does a miracle cost?

A very witty little girl, aged only six, heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she understood was that he was really ill and that her parents were left with no money at all.

On the following month, they were going to move to a flat on the suburbs, because her father had no money to pay for the doctors as well as the rent.

Only a very dangerous surgical intervention could save the little boy, and there was no one that could lend them the necessary money.

The little girl heard her father saying to her crying mother: “Only a miracle can save him.”

She went into her room, got her jam jar from its hidden place, put all the money she had on the floor and counted it carefully. She did it three times. The amount of money had to be exact.

There could be no margin of mistake. She put the money back in the jar and closed the lid carefully. She went out through the back door and walked the five blocks that separated their house from the pharmacy.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to see her and give her some attention, but the man was really busy. She scrapped her foot on the floor, but he didn’t notice her.

She cleared her throat making a very loud noise, but the man still didn’t give her any attention. At the end, she got a coin and started to hit the glass door with it. She was finally noticed!

“How can I help you?” - asked the impatient pharmacist. “I’m talking to my brother that has just arrived from Chicago, and I haven’t seen him for many years” said the man.

“Well, I‘d like to talk to you about my little brother”, answered the girl impatiently as well. “He’s very ill.  I’d like to buy a miracle.”

“I beg your pardon?” - said the pharmacist now with surprise.

“His name is Andrew and there’s something really bad growing inside his head and my dad said that only a miracle can save him. That’s why I’m here. So, how much does a miracle cost?”

“We do not sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry, but I cannot help you.” - Answered the man, this time in a friendlier voice.

“Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it is not enough, I will manage to get some more. Please, tell me how much it costs.” - insisted the little one.

The pharmacist’s brother was a very cordial man. He came forward and asked the girl: “What kind of miracle does your brother need?”

“I don’t know,” - answered the girl, looking at him - “I only know that he is very ill and that he needs an operation. As my dad cannot pay for it, I’ve decided to use my own money for it.”

“How much do you have?” - asked the man from Chicago.  

“One dollar and eleven cents.” - whispered the girl. - “It’s all I’ve got, but I can get more if necessary.”

“What a coincidence!” - smiled the man - “One dollar and eleven cents! That’s exactly the price of a miracle for little brothers!”

The man got the money and, holding the girl’s little hand, said:

“Take me to your house. I’d like to see your brother and to meet your parents. Let me see if I have the type of miracle you need.”

That man was a surgeon specialised in neurosurgery. The operation was a real success and it was done at no expenses. Some months later Andrew was at home, recovering.

Mother and father happily talked about the sequence of happenings.  

“The surgery” - said the mother - “was a real miracle. I’d love to know how much it cost!”  

The girl smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle costs. One dollar and eleven cents... plus a little girl’s faith...

 

  *    *    *

It doesn’t matter how bad a situation is, it can’t resist the miracle of love.

       When love comes into action, it wins and tranquilizes.

Whenever love is present, the pain escapes, suffering and selfishness go away.

 

Staff writers of Spiritist Moment, based on a message that circulates in the Internet, without author mention. Translated by Huei Lin Allegretti.

 

Carlton Armstrong is supposedly the doctor mentioned.

 

 

 

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