A little boy appeared under the storeowners sign, "Puppies for Sale".

"How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.

The storeowner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."

"I have $2.37," the little boy said. "Can I please look at them?"

The storeowner smiled and whistled, and out of the kennel came 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 owner explained that it had no hip socket; it would always be lame.

The little boy became excited, "That is the little puppy that I want to buy."

The storeowner said, "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 all the other dogs and I'll play full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."

The storeowner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to able to run and jump and play with you like the 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 softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need some one who understands!”

Moral: If there is one thing that is common with all the people in the world, it is the need to be loved. There is nobody in God’s creation who is unnecessary or unimportant. Everyday let’s make atleast one person feel important. Let the person feel that there is somebody who loves for love’s sake.

- Courtesy: Nava Sarathi, Jan 2004