"She keeps repeating it over and over again.  we've been back to this shelter at least five times.  It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the woman told the volunteer at the animal shelter.

"What is it she keeps asking for?" she asked.

"Puppy size!"

"We have planty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."

"I know.  We have seen most of them," she said in frustration.  Just then the young child came walking in the office.  "Well, did you find one?"

"No, not this time," she said with sadness in her voice.  "Can we come back on the weekend?"

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.  "You never know when we will get more dogs.  Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said.

The young child took her Mother by the hand and headed to the door.  "Don't worry, I bet we'll find one this weekend," the child said.

Over the next few days both mom and dad had long conversations with her.  They both felt she was being too particular.  "It's this weekend or we're not looking anymore," Dad finally said in frustration.  "We don't want to hear anything more about 'puppy size' either," Mom added.

Sure enough they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning.  By now the young child knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed smaller dogs.  Tired of the routine, Mom sat in the waiting room at the end of the first row of cages.  There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.  The young girl walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look.  One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.  One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."

It was the last cage on this last day in search for the perfect pup.  The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely.  This time she took a little longer.

"Mom, that's it!  I found the right puppy!  He's the one!  I know it!" she screamed with joy.

Mom, startled by the commotion, came running.  "What?  Are you sure?  How do you know?" she asked.

"It's the puppy sighs!"

"Yes, it's the same size as all the other puppies you held the last few weeks," Mom said.

"No, not 'size', 'sighs'.  When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said.

"So?"

"Don't you remember?  When I asked you one day what love is, you told me 'Love depends on the sighs of your heart.  The more you love, the bigger the sighs!'"

Thew two women looked at each other for a moment.  Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  As she stooped down to hug her child, she did a little of both.

"Mom, every time you hold me I sigh.  When you and Daddy come from work and hug each other, you both sigh.  I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.  Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said,  "Mom, he loves me.  I heard the sighs of his heart."

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the things that make you sigh.  I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the beauty of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.  I have also experienced the sigh at times that I know I have been used by God to touch another life, and when someone has gone out of their way to bless me.  The sigh comes when I stand in the street and look at my home (ignoring the maintenance that needs to be done), drive my light blue Civic down the street, and when I eat three times a day.  I know that sigh of love when I stand before wonderful people each week to preach and teach.

But more than anything, I heave a heavy sigh of love when I look at the cross.  Jesus does love us - He loves us very much.  The cross above us, reveals to us the sighs (and the size) of His heart.

We all need to do a lot of sighing, particularly on, but not limited to [Thanksgiving Day].  Come to the table sighing, and walk away the same.  Why?  Because the more you love, the bigger the "sighs", and we are blessed with a lot of love to ponder... and to give thanks.

Learn more about Bethel-St.Paul Church online: www.bethelstpaul.org