A store
owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For
Sale." Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and
sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign. "How
much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked. The store
owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50." The little boy
reached in his pocket and pulled out some change.
"I have
$2.37," he said. "May I please look at them?" The store
owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came a dog, who ran down
the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One
puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled
out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that
little dog?"
The store
owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and
had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would
always be lame.
The little
boy became excited. "That is the puppy that I want to buy."
The store
owner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really
want him, I'll just give him to you." The little boy got quite upset.
He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and
said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth
every bit as much as all the other dogs, and I'll pay full price. In fact,
I'll give you $2.37 now, and $0.50 cents a month until I have him paid
for."
The store
owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is
never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other
puppies." To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up
his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a
big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied,
"Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need
someone who understands."