“Daddy…what is my pourpuss?”

Jake sat on his father’s lap with his head buried deep into his chest, crying uncontrollably. His best friend was gone forever.

“Why did he have to die?” Jake asked

“Honey, all things die. Perhaps his time had come and his purpose had been accomplished.

“Huh?” Jake asked in a whimpering little voice. “What’s that mean?”

“Purpose?”

“Ya”

“Purpose means something is useful, hmm; let me see if I can explain it in your terms. I got it, where do you keep your pencils?”

“In my pencil box. I really, really like the red one!”

“Well, the pencil box has a useful purpose…it keeps your pencils safe. Understand?”

“I guess so.”

“But what was Roscoe’s pourpuss?”

“Well, remember when Grampa Henry died? You were very sad.”

“Ya, he took me fishing and we did lots of cool stuff together. He was my best friend!”

“And do you remember that we brought Roscoe home right after Grampa left us?”

A smile came on the little boy’s face.

Well, Roscoe’s purpose was to be your new best friend and help to heal your little broken heart. Understand?”

“Ya, I get it now…So Daddy every thing has a pourpuss.”

“That’s right!”

“Like the tree you planted outside the kitchen door?”

His father tilted his head a little to the side, as though he was trying to remember exactly why he had planted it..

“You said that when it grew tall, it would shade the house, Mama said it had pretty flowers that she could see from the kitchen and Grampa, he told me it was a secret place where angels would sit and keep an eye on me.”

“Ahhh, exactly!” his father responded.

“So daddy what is my pourpuss?”

Jake honey, for now your purpose is just to be. Someday though, the mysteries of the unknown will be revealed to you, the world will open up its doors and will expose your true purpose.

Always remember though, sometimes our purpose on this earth is bigger than life itself.