Puppies For Sale

The sign on the door said “Puppies for sale” and so the little boy went inside to look. The man inside the pet shop showed him five little puppies that were ready now to leave their mother. They were about the cutest dogs the little boy had ever seen.

“How much are they?” the little boy asked.

The man replied, “Some are fifty dollars, some are more.”

The little boy reached into his pocket and pulled out some change. After counting it, he said, “I have a dollar and forty-seven cents.”

“Well, I’m afraid I can’t sell you one of these puppies for a dollar and forty-seven cents, little boy. You’ll have to save your money and come back next time we have more puppies for sale.”

About that time, the pet store owner’s wife brought out another puppy that had been hidden in the back of the store. It was smaller than the other puppies, and had a bad leg. It couldn’t stand up very well, and when it tried to walk, it limped very badly.

“What’s wrong with that puppy?” asked the little boy. The pet store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the puppy and had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp and always be lame.

“Oh, I wish I had the money to buy that puppy!” exclaimed the little boy with excitement. “That’s the puppy I would choose!”

“Well, that puppy is not for sale, son. But if you really want him, I’ll just give him to you. No charge.”

But the little boy got quite upset at this. He looked straight at the pet store owner and said, “No, I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as the other dogs you have for sale. I’ll give you a dollar and forty-seven cents now, and I’ll give you fifty cents a month until I have paid for this dog in full.”

The pet store owner was perplexed. “You don’t really want to spend your money on this little dog, son. He is never going to be able to run and play with you like the other puppies.”

Then 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 pet store owner, with tears in his eyes and said, “Mister, I don’t run and play too good myself. I figure this little puppy is going to need someone like me who understands.”... If this doesn't melt your heart, nothing will... Brother Glen

 

Some may think this is only a heartwarming story about a limping dog and a limping boy but I left part of it out, it has deeper meaning for us... Scripture says that you were “bought with a price.” Jesus paid a very high price for you when he went to the cross. He did it because he loves you and wants you to be with him. And he understands what you are going through. As it says in the book of Isaiah, he was the “Suffering Servant” who “bore our iniquities.” He took all of the pain we deserve upon himself.

You may feel like an outcast, a nobody. You may think nobody likes you, that nobody wants you. You may be suffering, going through difficult times. Through all of that, you can be sure that Jesus understands. He knows exactly how you feel.... And in the words of Paul Harvey... That's the rest of the story... Brother Glen