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Crunch

Page 9

by Rick Bundschuh


  He pulled a business card out of his pocket and handed it to Bethany. “When you get a chance, give me a call, and I will arrange to have this boy fitted with the best kind of prosthetic foot available.”

  “Really?” Bethany studied the man’s face, not quite believing what she had heard.

  “Really,” he said with a kind smile. “Eduardo’s wound is the kind that has a great prognosis for the kind of prosthetics being made today. I would guess that within a few months he could do just about anything anyone with two normal feet could do: run, jump, swim, and even surf!”

  “Play competitive soccer?” Bethany prompted.

  “Absolutely! No problem at all.”

  “Wow! Thank you!” said Bethany. “Can you tell Eduardo what you just told me?”

  “Sure.” He bent down and spoke to the little boy. Eduardo smiled and patted the man’s cheek, saying something that apparently startled the doctor. Bethany saw his eyes well up with tears.

  “What did Eduardo say to you?”

  Dr. Jensen turned to her, cleared his throat, and smiled a trembly smile. “He said he thinks he knows what God’s face looks like now.”

  “What?” asked Bethany with surprise.

  The doctor shrugged as he nodded. He looked shaken as he tapped his card in Bethany’s hand and reminded her, “Don’t forget to call.” Then he slowly walked away.

  “No, I won’t forget!” Bethany called after him and then glanced back at Eduardo who was smiling up at her with the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. I won’t ever forget this day!

  As the sun began its final plunge toward the ocean, the banners were rolled up, tents collapsed, and a tired but happy group of kids slowly trudged through the mostly empty parking lot toward their van.

  “Well, this has been a remarkable day,” Eddie said to Bethany and Maggie as they walked behind the children. Eddie and Maggie’s ministry had been given a large check to use to help children with medical needs.

  “When I came to Mexico last year, I was expecting to be the one who was helping others,” Bethany said with a smile. “Instead, I feel like I was the one who learned a lot.”

  “Yeah?” Eddie said, turning to look at her.

  “Well, it was a real surprise to me to learn that being a person who sticks to her word costs a lot. I mean, I never expected it to be that much of a personal struggle.”

  Eddie and Maggie remained silent, and Bethany continued.

  “I can see now how God really used that lesson for the greater good. I mean, I’m so glad we had this opportunity to help Eduardo and kids like him. I might have missed all that if I had gone back on my promise.”

  “Well, like I always say, if a man doesn’t have his word, he doesn’t have anything,” Eddie said. “I’m glad you were able to figure that out.”

  “But there’s a lot more I came to understand too,” Bethany rushed on excitedly.

  “I learned that I really admire people like you two. I hang out with people who are stars in the world of surfing. You saw it today. These people have everything: kids asking for their autographs, T-shirts with their pictures or names on them, and photos and articles about them in magazines. But to be honest, I think you guys are the real stars.”

  “Aw,” Eddie said, brushing away the compliment with a wave of his hand.

  “Seriously, people have it all backward! They put the wrong people on the covers of magazines.”

  “Well, Bethany, God has it all figured out, and he has all of eternity to do it. Like Jesus said, ‘Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first’ and ‘Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.’ “

  “What do you say we get in line for some tacos tonight—the Hamiltons’ treat,” said Bethany.

  “There’s always room for tacos!” Eddie laughed.

  That evening at a corner taco stand in Tijuana where the exhaust fumes from speeding cars mixed with the sound of honking horns, Eddie, Maggie, Eduardo, and his mother and siblings joined the Hamilton family for a feast.

  “Here’s how you do it, Dad,” Bethany explained. “You order however many you want and whatever you want to drink. Then, when you are all done eating, you simply tell the guy how many tacos and drinks you had, and he will tell you how much you owe.”

  “Isn’t he afraid of getting ripped off?” Tom asked, a little surprised. “What if we were to try to cheat him by saying we had three tacos when we had six?”

  “Dad, there are some places in the world where the word of a person still means something. Don’t worry; he will trust you. He knows you are a Christian.”

  Bethany smiled at Eddie and Maggie, and they smiled back.

  “You must have a good name here,” Tom said.

  “It’s the result of lots and lots of honest dealings with other believers,” Bethany said.

  “Hmm, reminds me of a verse,” Cheri said, smiling. “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

  “I think I’ll have another taco on that note,” Bethany said happily.

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