A little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign, "Puppies for sale."
"How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.
The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."
"I have $2.37," the little boy said, "Can I please look at them?"
The store owner 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 store owner said, "No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just 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 pay the full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."
The store owner countered, "You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be 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 store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don’t run so well myself, and I think the little puppy will need someone who understands!"
Jesus understands our weaknessesm temptations and trials. He left Heaven and was wrapped in flesh to show us divinity. But He also understands our humanity because he was "tempted in every point, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15-16). Thank God for a real, living Savior who knows us and understands us.
- Precept Austin