Dolly Parton donated behind the scenes for decades - Shareables Faith & Joy #15

This week: adopted dog's sleepy smile, America's national treasure, and puppy + baby Jesus [View this email in your browser]( Hey everyone, Can you start to feel the holiday spirit in the air? We’re hearing Christmas music on the radio almost everywhere we go. The air outside may be cold, but hopefully our hearts are all warm! If you could use some extra heat, we’ve got some great stories below. Let’s dive in! [:heart:][:smiling_face_with_3_hearts:] If it's your first time reading or a friend sent this to you, you can [subscribe here](. This Week's Top Stories [:newspaper:] ANIMALS [Shelter dog falls asleep smiling in his new home]( Petey’s that dog. The one that always has a smile on his face no matter what obstacles life throws at him. And he stayed true to that when he had to be removed from his small, over-capacity shelter. Thankfully, when the SPCA of Wake County was contacted, they were able to take him in. When he arrived, he bounded straight into the lobby with his adorable eye-patch. The staff saw how playful, friendly, and excited Petey was to meet people. It was difficult to understand why someone wouldn’t want to bring him home! So as usual, they turned to social media for help. Although they were concerned that Petey would be overlooked in favor of smaller, less intimidating dogs, he was able to find his forever home in under a month! Now, he’s got a giant yard to play fetch in, his own cozy bed, a doggy brother, and a huge group of new doggy friends from the local dog park. “He’s the perfect addition. Petey is so loved and is opening up and showing us his beautiful personality. I am so happy to have him,” his new family said. [(Full article & video)]( SMILES [Dolly Parton donated behind the scenes for decades]( Some of you may have heard that Dolly Parton was recently awarded a [$100 million “Courage and Civility” award from Jeff Bezos]( in recognition of her philanthropic efforts. If you were uninformed like us, then you also wondered, “Why?” Well, we did some research to educate ourselves and thought we’d share some examples of her amazing work. 1) She’s been funding the bands at majority black high schools in her hometown city/state for decades, supplying them with instruments, equipment, uniforms, and more. If you talk to anyone in choir or band at those high schools, they’d say “Oh, Dolly Parton paid for ours” without missing a beat. 2) At a middle school, she ensured each student would have an individual locker as opposed to having to share two each. 3) Apparently, Parton used to regularly pay for funerals for those who couldn’t afford them. 4) In 1988, she created a Buddy Contract program for her hometown, Sevier County, that gave $1k to every 7th and 8th grader that paired up and successfully graduated. Their conditions were to graduate and help one another with issues that would potentially lead to either dropping out. Any problems seemingly beyond their control were asked to be directed to Parton directly. 5) She pays tuition, cost of books, and other fees for her Dollywood employees to go to college. 6) There’s a 27-year old Imagination Library program that donates books to children, free of charge, from birth to the age of 5. 7) During the fires of Gatlinburg, TN, she donated $12.5+ million to afflicted families. For 6 months, she gave $1k per month to 900 families with her foundation boosting it to $5k for the last month. 8) During the peak of Covid-19, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical which was working with Moderna to develop the first vaccine. Parton is truly a national treasure, and it’s no wonder that she not only won Bezos’ award, but was nominated twice for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. There’s so much inspiration to be drawn from her and we can look towards her as a model of philanthropy and altruism. [(Full story & video)]( ANIMALS [Freezing puppy finds warmth and shelter in nativity scene]( Every country and culture has their own unique way of celebrating, and for the Catholics, nativity is the big focus for Christmas. Some refer to the nativity scene as Belen, or the Spanish word for Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, and many decorations and exhibits will portray the birth of Jesus. However, in one of these exhibits in Brazil, the focus shifted from baby Jesus to…a homeless German Shepherd puppy! During those cold winter nights, it found comfort and warmth in the makeshift crib, protected by the historical figures of that special night. As onlookers stopped by to adore the pup, they couldn’t help but draw similarities to the stories of the night of Jesus’ birth. The story tells that due to a population swell in Jerusalem as a result of religious holiday observation, Mary and Joseph had difficulty finding a place to stay, ultimately finding refuge in a manger to make it past the freezing night. Both parties found shelter in rather unexpected places but were thankfully able to survive. As we reflect on the spirit of the holidays and are reminded of the spirit of giving, let’s all try to practice compassion for others and understand that everyone has their own unique struggles and hardships. Some of us may simply be trying to make it through the night. [(Full story & video)]( Best Posts on Instagram [:camera_with_flash:] - My reaction when my husband complains he can't do something [because he's holding the baby]( - The way he [delicately wraps a blanket around this bird]( is ADORABLE - My reaction when [I have a million things to do in a day]( - Can [rude sales staff]( be a...strategy? Discuss! - These 3 plant foods can provide [a pathway for a deep sleep]( - This is the [Christmas Tree hack]( you've been looking for “Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.” - Marianne Williamson Thanks for reading! [:heart:][:wave:] See you in a few days for another happy start to the week! [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [About Shareably Media]( [Email](mailto:newsletter@shareably.net) If you enjoyed today's newsletter, share it with someone by clicking one of the buttons below! [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( Have feedback? Email us at newsletter@shareably.net! Did a friend forward this to you? [Subscribe here]( Want to advertise with us? Reach out using [this form here](. Copyright © 2022 Shareably Media, LLC, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at one of our websites. 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