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"Danielle keeps repeating it over and
over again. We've been back to this 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 bet we'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 the last few
weeks," Mom said. "No not size ---- 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
sighs!" 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. They are the
sighs of God. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be
surprised at what you hear.
"Life is not measured by the breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away."
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