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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."
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.
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. |
Soul Kisses Newsletter