Cheering for the Underdog

Most people have a heart for the underdog. Underdogs are the predicted loser in a contest, or the victim of an injustice. It doesn't matter if it's the runt of the litter, or a contestant on Wheel of Fortune who hasn’t won any money, we still can’t help cheering on an underdog because we feel for them.

 

On the morning of December 24th, 2009, the last thing I cared about was the underdog - human or animal. I awoke engulfed in a pity party stemming from loss. Between finding out our kids (including our new granddaughter) wouldn't be home for Christmas, and having to put our faithful canine companion down, I didn't care about getting out of bed, much less celebrating Christmas. But God had other plans; plans to use me to offer hope to the down and out. That Christmas was like non other, and was a powerful reminder of the true meaning of the season.

After sharing the unusual events of the day with my agent, she kept nudging me to write the manuscript. The problem was, I saw it only as a short story about a Christmas dog. I couldn't catch the vision of an entire book based on just that one day. Only after much prayer, along with reading through my many journals from that time period, did I realize the "Christmas Dog" book was actually an underdog story, about both humans and animals. And last spring, as if to confirm God wanted the book written, the contract seemed to fall from the sky. Then, all through the hot summer months of writing, the winter words flowed almost effortlessly. Yes, God wanted me to write this book. He wanted me to encourage others to step out of their comfort zones and have a heart for the underdogs He puts in their path, too.

So, I hope you enjoy, Christmas Underdogs: A True Story about Canines, Convicts and God’s Love for All. It is a testimony of the faithfulness of God and how He nudges us to get out of bed and care about others - especially the forgotten among us.

Early Christmas Blessings to You,

Connie