A little vignette story I have written for inspiration, hope, and the spirit of charity. (click on “SHOW MORE”)
A little girl and her Mom, their kind family in very poor economic circumstances, went outside for a stroll one morning. Mom was towing her little girl in a red wagon. From a short distance away, they saw a volunteer standing outside the local humane society animal shelter. He waved over at them and smiled, and then went inside the large facility and sat behind the front counter of the pet reception center. He observed through a window the Mom and little girl stopping in front of the facility outside, the little girl happily pointing at a little puppy being walked outside its kennel; and from behind another window, they saw another puppy barking out to them: “arf-arf!”
The little girl turned her face toward Mom, beckoning her to obtain for them the “doggie in the window” to take home as their very own. The shelter volunteer watched as she searched through her hand bag in search of some money; she had only a few one-dollar bills, and some coins. She reached down and handed them to her little girl. Leaving the little red wagon just outside the window, together they walked inside the reception office. Mom stood and watched as her little girl presented the little sum of money to the manager at the front counter, pointing eagerly to the puppy in the window, and asked him if she could take the doggie home as her Christmas gift for the family. The manager had sadness in his eyes, for he hated to have to turn the little girl down; for that doggie in the window would cost much more than just a few dollars to cover the standard fees ---- more than the little girl and her Mom would likely see in several years time. The shelter needed the money from fees to be able to continue its important services for the community. The little girl said nothing; her eyes welling up with tears; she kept pointing to that “puppy in the window “ who continued to look over at her, wagging its tail, and barking “arf-arf !!”
The manager looked over at Mom. Her face also was covered with sadness for her little girl. After some seconds of silent pause, the volunteer’s sad frown then turned into a warm and gracious smile, with a few tears welled up in his eyes as well. A stream of other visitors to the reception center, standing in line, observed the situation going on, and one could hear the ruffling of pockets and purses as patrons pulled out their spare change and currency to help the Mom and little girl pay the required fee. Clearly moved, the manager then announced: “The puppy in the window is yours! By popular acclaim, the fees are paid, and we are chipping in with discounts, biscuits, food and free toys, and doggy supplies coupons for other places too!!!” The manager then reached out and slid the little girl’s “pocket change” back over the counter and into her little outreached hands, telling her: “You may keep this money for your needy family.” He then walked over to the doggy’s pen and removed the puppy, who promptly jumped into the little girl’s arms, licking her face with enthusiasm, inter-sprinkled with “arf-arf’s.” Mom brightened up with a big smile and expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the humane society shelter manager and volunteer, and tearfully shook hands with the fellow patrons in line who so generously had reached out to help them in time of need.
Together they went outside and placed the puppy inside the little red wagon with the little girl. As Mom, her little girl, and their little doggie departed from the shelter facility, the manager and volunteer happily waved their hands good-bye to them, extending their shared heartfelt joyous best wishes. The little girl waved back and cheered “Bye-bye----thank you !!!” The puppy continued barking “arf-arf” and wagging its happy tail as they slowly faded into the distance.
For the volunteer and patrons in the line, it wasn’t just another day of shelter business. Instead, it was a lifetime of renewal. For everybody. Living testimony to the human spirit of giving and of sharing and never-ending human compassion. ----- written by Jack Renshaw