Christmas Goes to the Dogs

Bailey sat under the Christmas tree, his head laying on his paws as
he was deep in thought. The large, handsome German Shepherd was
thinking about now nice it was that Christmas was here. The lights were
lit on the tree and Christmas carols played softly on the stereo. The
family was gathered around and everyone was laughing and having a good
time.

"What'chya doing, cousin Bailey?" Coco came over to him and sat down
next to his big, strong cousin.

Bailey looked at the little brown poodle with the big dark eyes and
soft, silky fur. "Just thinking, cousin Coco."

"'Bout what?" He asked curiously. He always wondered what went through
that mind of Bailey's.

"How nice it is that the family is together for Christmas."

"And how we're going to have turkey and play with all our new
presents!" Coco yipped excitedly.

"That's nice too," Bailey agreed, "but Christmas isn't all about
presents, you know."

"What is it about, cousin Bailey?" Coco leaned in closer so that he
could hear his great, big cousin speak.

Bailey put his arm around his little buddy. "Well, we celebrate
Christmas because it is the birth of Christ."

"Christ?" Coco asked.

Bailey nodded. "He was born in a manger in the city of
Bethlehem."

"What's a manger?"

"It's like a stable, silly. It's a trough where animals go to eat and
drink. Joseph took his wife Mary to the inn for the night but there was
no room for them. They had to sleep in the stable and that's where baby
Jesus was born. People came from all over to see the newborn king.
There were a lot of animals there too."

"Animals?" Coco asked. "You mean, like us?"

Bailey nodded again. "There might have been a few dogs but it's said
that the farm animals were there."

"Farm animals?"

"You know, lambs, donkeys, even an ox."

"An ox? Wow, cousin Bailey. I don't think I've ever seen an ox
before."

"There's a legend about animals at Christmas. It says that for one hour
on Christmas eve, all the animals in the world can speak."

"We speak to each other all the time, cousin Bailey." Coco pointed
out.

"That's true but we do it in our minds and nobody can hear us."

"That's funny! You have a loud voice. How can anyone not hear
you?"

"People hear us when we bark and cry, cousin Coco. It's different from
when we talk to each other in our minds."

"Did the baby Jesus make us talk to each other like that?" Coco
asked.

"I think so. Jesus did so many wonderful, special things. Sometimes we
all have a tendency to forget that. We celebrate Christmas because it's
His birthday. When we give each other presents, we do it because it's
His birthday."

"Didn't He get any presents for His birthday, cousin Bailey?"

"Three kings brought Him very special gifts."

"Like a new bone?"

Bailey shook his head. "No, silly. They brought Him gold, frankincense
and myrrh. Only dogs get bones, cousin Coco. We always have to remember
that Christmas is the birth of Jesus. It's nice to get presents but
that's not what Christmas means."

"Christmas is about love and family and being together. Right, cousin
Bailey?"

"You got it, little buddy."

Coco nuzzled his face against his cousin's. "I love you, cousin
Bailey."

"I love you too, cousin Coco."

"Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you too, little buddy."