The Lame Puppy

A small boy walked into a shop in front of which was a sign: "Puppies Sold Here." The boy wanted so much to have a puppy. Upon asking the owner, the boy was told the prices. The boy didn't have enough money; however, he pleaded with the owner to let him have at least a glance at the puppies.

Unable to reject his plea, the owner whistled, and there came a dog with many puppies. The boy watched the puppies with keen interest and noticed that the puppy that came last was lame.

"Poor thing. What happened to it?" he asked the owner. "From birth it has been lame. All treatments to cure him have failed," said the owner. Looking at the puppy with deep pity, the boy asked, "Will you sell that puppy to me? I'll pay the price in installments." Looking at the boy with astonishment, the owner asked him, "Child, why do you need a lame puppy? It won't be able to play with you. Can't you buy a normal one?" But the boy insisted that he wanted only the lame puppy.

Finally, the shopkeeper said, "You can take the puppy with you. I'll give it to you free." To the shopkeeper's surprise, the boy still insisted that he pay for the puppy--and at the same price as the others. The owner asked him why he was so fond of the lame puppy. The boy pulled up his pants and showed him his artificial leg. "See, I too have lost a leg. Therefore, I'll be able to share my heart with this puppy. I would be able to understand its pain, and it would be able to understand mine."

Children, learn to look upon the sorrows of others as your own sorrow and learn to make the joys of others your own joy. It may appear difficult to cultivate that attitude, but we have to make an effort.