O. Henry was an American short story writer who created stories that usually had surprise endings. One of his most famous stories is called the Gift of the Magi. In the story, a man who has a pocket watch that he values sells it at Christmas in order to buy his wife some expensive combs for her long, lovely hair. Unbeknownst to him, his wife cut her hair and sold it to buy her loving husband an expensive chain for the watch he no longer had. With that in mind, here is a Christmas story that is not only true–and I know it because I am a witness to it–but it also filled me with good cheer and all the feels associated with gift giving and gratitude and the good things about the holiday season.

As you are reading this, I’m pet sitting for an elderly couple in a village in Surrey, southwest of London, England. There are four dogs here. Now, you’re probably familiar with the concept of guide dogs. If you’re not, you have probably seen people with sight issues who often have a dog with them. These guide dogs are especially trained assistance to people with seeing issues. The dogs have to undergo weeks of intensive training after displaying the types of characteristics and traits that are needed for the important tasks associated with assisting blind people.

The people who live here told me that about seven years ago they were able to get a beautiful Labrador puppy. He had a shiny black coat and intelligent eyes. He was an exceptional specimen. They named him Jasper. When he was about a year old, they had Jasper evaluated to see if he had the requisite characteristics for entering the guide dog program. The couple was told that Jasper was the perfect candidate for the guide dog program. So, wanting to keep him, but also recognizing that he could bring valuable help to someone with sight issues, they decided to turn him over to the guide dog program.

Jasper completed the initial school for training near the top of his class. He went on to what they call “big boy school“ and performed exceptionally well there also. Shortly after graduating, Jasper was assigned a young woman who came to depend on him for much of her daily tasks and mobility issues. At that point, happy that they had helped someone else with their gift, the people lost track of Jasper.

A couple that gave up the dog stayed in touch with the program and supported it financially over the next several years. About six months ago, they got a message from one of the administrators at the guide dog program asking them if they would be interested in adopting a dog, a dog that had recently been retired from the program. You see, guide dogs only stay with their assigned person for about seven years during their peak work and ability period. The administrator explained to the couple that they had a dog that had to be rehomed because the person with sight issues had developed health problems that required institutionalization. The dog was no longer needed, and, after having them with the person for about 5 1/2 years, and, having only about another year and a half left of useful working life, the dog was retiring early. Did the couple want to adopt the dog? After talking about it for a bit, the couple decided that yes, they would be interested in adopting the dog. In a small way, they felt like it was fitting that they would be able to provide a home for this dog in retirement after having given up a dog a few years before. So, they eagerly went to the foster home to meet their new dog and bring him to his new home.

When they got there, they couldn’t believe their eyes.

The dog that they were adopting turned out to be Jasper, the dog they had given up 5 1/2 years before.

The Magi continue to bring gifts, don’t they?

Happy Christmas, one and all.