"Size - Sighs"

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. 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 week 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. They were the first ones in the shelter the next day. 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."  "The right puppy is somewhere, we just have to find him".

Dad finally found "Old Hickory Beagles" a small kennel in North Alabama.  They had beautiful AKC registered beagle puppies.  Quickly a call was made to arrange to look at the puppies.  After looking at the puppies Daniel carefully picked up the little beagles one at a time and held it closely.  This time she took a little longer examining one of the puppies. "Mom, this is 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.  

Mom and Dad 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 beagle puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me.  I heard the sighs of his heart!"