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When I wanted a puppy
I felt as if I’d been asking for a dog my whole life. But my dad wasn’t sure I was ready for the responsibility, so he gave me a challenge. In the middle of February, he said that I could pretend to have a dog for a week. I would have to do all the things that a dog owner would do, such as taking my “dog” out in the freezing cold, even before the sun came up.
To my dad’s surprise, that whole week I got up extra early to take my pretend puppy out in the snow before 7:00 a.m. And after school, I came right home to take another long, freezing walk. I was so eager to prove I was ready to be a dog owner that I completed this challenge without complaining once.

August 15, 2016 issue
View Issue-
Letters
Alane McNeilly, Pat Spencer, Patricia Hirsch, Barbara Whitewater
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Caring for the Olympics with prayer
Margit Hammerstrom
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Praying for the Olympic Games
Leide Lessa
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A psalm that’s stayed with me
Abby Hillman
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When I wanted a puppy
Laura Lapointe
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Malaria healed
Ryan Siewert
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Hemorrhaging stops
Kristin Bennett
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Quick and complete healing of back injury
Mary Ann Sprague
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Refugee runners: Olympics fields its first team without a country
Ryan Lenora Brown
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Home—the kingdom of heaven within
Allison Rose-Sonnesyn
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A deeper search for God—whatever the cost
Margarita Sandelmann Thatcher
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Safety measures we can all take
Barbara Vining