Puppy Size?

 "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!"