Operation “Who Let the Dogs Out”

I can’t speak for Christ.

But I’m pretty sure “Goodwill Toward Men” would be on His birthday list. This is why I become the Secret Santa of Nashville each year and give out money to shoppers at Goodwill stores. 

In 2017, one of my former speaking students, who I’ll call Carl, asked to join me.

As we walked around the store looking for targets, it became a Secret Santa competition. We’d ask people “Do you believe in the magic of Christmas?” and gave them a $100 bill if they answered yes.

As we were leaving, a woman came running up to Carl.

As a flood of uncontrollable tears raced down her cheeks, she explained that it was her first Christmas as a single mom and his generous gift completely made Christmas for her two little girls.

As I drove off, the George Strait song “I Saw God Today” came on the radio. I don’t know if God speaks through country music, but I felt like George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

In 2018, my Secret Santa outing was more subdued because I blew out my voice in Chattanooga at the last seminar of the year.

So for 2019, we added something new by going to the dog pound and prepaying the adoption fee of every dog and cat they had at the time.

We then went to the Humane Society and prepaid the adoption fee for all dogs and cats over 5 years old. (Puppies and kittens are easy to get adopted, but older pets are harder).

The story spread like wildfire on social media and the TV news, and most of the pets found a home in time for Christmas.

I admit I’m totally biased. I like dogs better than people. They’re more loyal, affectionate, honest, dependable, trustworthy, unselfish, faithful, and forgiving than humans.  If people were as affectionate as dogs, divorce lawyers would go broke.

I don’t know if Goodwill Toward Dogs and Cats would also be on Christ’s birthday list.

But the feeling of helping a few furry friends get a home really added to the magic of Christmas for us, and will become a part of our annual tradition for the rest of our lives.

If you’re looking for something meaningful to do next Christmas, sponsor a pet at your local Human Society or animal control. It costs as little as $25, but the feeling is priceless.

In Servant Leadership,

Glenn Shepard

P.S. And now we know who let the dogs out. It was Santa Clause :-)

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