Puppies for sale
In a town near Amsterdam, a puppy shop owner posts a sign ‘Puppies for Sale’ outside his store, hoping the passing kids will stop to look. Later that afternoon, a young boy visits and asks about adopting a puppy. The owner asks his assistant to bring out the puppies and let the boy pick one. As the cages opened, the pups dash around the store. The owner invites the boy to choose the one he likes. The boy notices one puppy that isn’t playing with the others; he approaches it and sees the pup has an injury and cannot walk properly. This kind of story echoes themes you’ll find in our article on Helping Others.
The boy asks the owner, ‘What is wrong with that pup?’
The owner explains, ‘The pup has a leg issue; the doctor says he may never run or jump like the others. So he might not be suitable if you’re looking for a playful companion.’
The boy says, ‘I want that injured pup. How much would you sell it for?’
The owner replies, ‘If you like that pup, I’ll give him to you for free. If you want any other pup, I’ll charge $50.’
The boy points to the injured pup and says he’ll take him and pay $50, because of his leg. The pup’s worth should not change. The boy then rolls up his pant leg to show the store owner his own leg—he is crippled and uses a prosthetic leg. Then he speaks up to the owner.
The owner nods and says, ‘Well, I don’t want to misread this situation. I hope you both understand each other.’
Moral of the story
One man’s need is another man’s poison. Always remember that a person’s worth is measured by character. A lion does not lose sleep over the opinions of sheep. We must be original and be satisfied by our actions. We sometimes underestimate the value of what we have, or what we are about to receive. We should always be more caring toward the right person. Make up your mind, don’t get diverted by the opinions of others and change your course. Evaluate and then execute. Life is a gamble, and we humans must try to make the world a better place. This story also resonates with the idea of Honesty, and with the spirit of Being Grateful. For another perspective on thinking creatively, see the Story of a Frog.
