"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been
back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now
since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.
"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.
"Puppy size!" replied the mother.
"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's
looking
for."
"I know we have seen most of them," the mom said in
frustration...Just then Danielle came walking into the office
"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom. "No, not this time!
,"
Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the
weekend?"
The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and
laughed.
"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately,
there's always a supply," the volunteer said.
Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door.
"Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.
Over the next few days both mom and dad had long
conversations
with her. They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this
weekend
or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration. "We
don't
want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.
Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on
Saturday
morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the
section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, mom sat in
the
small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages.
There was an observation window so you could see the animals
during times when visitors weren't permitted. Danielle walked slowly
from
cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one
the
dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said,
"Sorry,
you're not the one."
It was the last cage on this last day in search of the
perfect
pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked
up
the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.
"Mom,
that's it!
I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she
screamed
with joy. "It's the puppy size!"
"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held
over
the last few weeks," Mom said.
+
"No not size ---- the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he
sighed," she said. "Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what
love
is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you
love, the bigger the sigh!"
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't
know
whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did
a
little of both. "Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and
Daddy
come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would
find
the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.
Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom,
he
loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"
Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that
makes
you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the
caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of
cool
air on a hot day.
back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now
since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.
"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.
"Puppy size!" replied the mother.
"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's
looking
for."
"I know we have seen most of them," the mom said in
frustration...Just then Danielle came walking into the office
"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom. "No, not this time!
,"
Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the
weekend?"
The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and
laughed.
"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately,
there's always a supply," the volunteer said.
Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door.
"Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.
Over the next few days both mom and dad had long
conversations
with her. They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this
weekend
or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration. "We
don't
want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.
Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on
Saturday
morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the
section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, mom sat in
the
small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages.
There was an observation window so you could see the animals
during times when visitors weren't permitted. Danielle walked slowly
from
cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one
the
dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said,
"Sorry,
you're not the one."
It was the last cage on this last day in search of the
perfect
pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked
up
the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.
"Mom,
that's it!
I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she
screamed
with joy. "It's the puppy size!"
"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held
over
the last few weeks," Mom said.
+
"No not size ---- the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he
sighed," she said. "Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what
love
is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you
love, the bigger the sigh!"
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't
know
whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did
a
little of both. "Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and
Daddy
come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would
find
the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.
Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom,
he
loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"
Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that
makes
you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the
caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of
cool
air on a hot day.
That's secret code for "tell me where and when..."
