Puppy Size

   Mother had taken Danielle to the shelter to search for a puppy. Danielle couldn't find the right one. None of them seem to be the one that she was looking for.

   "Did you find the one that you were looking for?" Mother asked.

   "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. They had decided that this weekend was the last time they were going to go to the shelter. 

   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. 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!" -Anonymous

I have always liked this story. I have felt the sighs of God for me. I constantly think of and remember the things that He has given me. The things that make me sigh and ponder on the things that He has done for me. "Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." What are the moments that take your breath away and how often do you remember them?