Puppies for Sale

A storeowner was tacking a sign above his door that read “Puppies for Sale". These signs had a weird way of attracting children. And sure enough, a little boy appeared at the sign.

“How much are you going to sell those puppies for?” he asked.

The store owner replied “Anywhere from $30-$50.”

The little boy reached into his pocket and pulled out some change. “I have $2.37, can I have a look at them?"

The storeowner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, 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 storeowner explained that when the puppy was born, the vet had said that the puppy had no hip socket and would limp for the rest of its life.

The little boy got really excited and said, “That’s the puppy I want to buy!"

The storeowner replied, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll 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 the other dogs and I’ll pay the full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now and 50 cents every month until I have him paid for.”

The storeowner countered, “You really don’t want to buy this puppy. He is never going to be able to run, jump and play like other puppies!"

To this 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 storeowner and said softly, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands.”

Don’t we all? Thank God that Jesus understands us. He was tempted in every way that we are yet without sin. The chorus of an old song we used to sing says:

“No one ever cared for me like Jesus,

There’s no other friend so kind as He,

No one else could take the sin and darkness from me,

Oh how much He cared for me!"