My favorite book about Christmas is one my mom used to read to me when I was little. Every year, she pulled out the story of Claude the Dog by Dick Gackenbach. The simple illustrations and minimal use of color throughout the book almost make you not look twice at it. However, the expressions of the dogs in the book are what make you remember the story all your life.
Claude is a dog who has a nice, warm doghouse. He is well-fed, and has a little boy who dearly loves him. Claude is spoiled by the boy and his family. He seems to have everything.
Along comes his friend, Bummer. Bummer is a scrappy little dog….thin, needs someone to be nice to him. He remarks to Claude about how much he loves Claude’s Christmas gifts; a pillow, a toy mouse, and a blanket. Claude realizes that because Bummer is homeless, that he will never have the nice things that Claude does. Claude gives Bummer his presents and Bummer trots away happily. Claude’s owner comes back to see him at the end of the story, and it is obvious to the reader how much the boy truly loves Claude. Claude realizes that the love of the boy is greater than any material item he could ever receive.
Christmas is a time of giving gifts. But the real gift is having compassion for one another. Being kind to our fellow man is what Christmas is about. Jesus was born to give us love and make us feel whole. Jesus does not give us material things. He gives us his perfect love and for that, I am as grateful for Jesus as Claude was for his boy. Have a blessed Christmas, everyone. Love, Fletch
That's So Fletch 
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