This is a neat story. You’ll know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end.
‘Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We’ve been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It’s 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’ve 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, but 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 her 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. You can find it in the arms of loved ones, 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’ll be surprised at what you hear.
‘Life is not measured by the breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.’
I hope your life is filled with Sighs!
Merry Christmas!
Love, B.J., Charlie Bear, & Rex
Hi B.J. This touched my heart, brought tears and BIG sighs. 🙂
Sue, me too!
So sweet! So lovely! Think I’ll go give a Christmas sigh of my own. Blessed Christmas, dear friend.
Kay, may you and Dan have many blessed sighs this week (and forever after). Merry Christmas!
How beautiful and touching, BJ. May you have many sighs in your heart next week as you spend time with your family and may it ease your heartache. Have a blessed Christmas, my friend.
Jean, so glad you liked the story. I did so much too. I will have lots of sighs in my heart next week. Thank you for the good wishes. Merry Christmas!
What a delightful story! Thanks for the sighs in put in my heart!
Rita, this story made me aware of all the “sighs” I have in my life. Have a Very Merry Christmas!
Awesome post! Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas from Lucy and I. =)
Thanks for the Christmas wishes, Lucy and Yvonne!
Awwwwww. I love it.
Catrina, thanks for the comment! Have a Very Merry Christmas!
Beautiful story, B.J. (and Charlie) – full of sighs.
Love it.
Lois, yes, full of sighs…and every time I think of that word I will think of God. Have a blessed Merry Christmas!