The fields were lush and green with the spring grass. Puppies galloped and frollicked in the yard. Their black and white coats shimmered in the bright sunshine. A young pup sat on the outskirts of the group of puppies. His ears drooped down, eyes downcast.  He was deep in thought.

“Ohhhhh, I wish that I was as fast and quick as the other puppies. Their paws can run so quickly across the fields! Mine, on the other hand, trip over everything! I am constantly stumbling, tripping and falling over my own paws! Then, all my brothers, sisters and friends laugh at me, telling me I will never be able to herd sheep! But I love doing it! Mom and Dad say that I will grow out of my clumsiness, and that one day I will be just as fast as the other puppies. But will I? It doesn’t feel like I’m getting any faster. If I can’t get better, Mom and Dad might be mad at me! What would I do with my life? Well, I am going to prove them all wrong! Just wait!”

An older dog walked up to him and sat down.

“Freddy, what is the matter? Why aren’t you playing with your friends?” the father asked the pup.

“Oh Dad, they don’t want me to play with them. They say I am too clumsy to join in!”

The old dog looked Freddy in the eye and said,” Now listen here, Freddy, you don’t let them decide what you can or can’t do! You can do whatever you want as long as you try and put your heart into it!”

Freddy took this message and pondered it for many days. A few weeks later, talk began to spread among the puppies of the first rounding up of the sheep in the pasture. In excitement for this big event they all practiced their running and herding.