During our Christmas Eve service many years ago, the minister spoke to the congregation’s children and said the animals would talk at midnight.
I think of this every year: Do the very earliest hours of Christmas give our animals a voice? I have considered the telling of a Christmas miracle often this year, as our little dog, Annie, recently died after a brief battle with cancer.
I wondered what she would have said if she could have gotten to Christmas Eve.
Curious about where this legend came from, I researched, including asking a pastor or two if there was any biblical reference to this story. There are vague retellings of this story in Northern European history, but nothing specific in Christian writings about animals gaining a voice at Christmas.
This doesn’t make the story untrue. While we can’t precisely communicate, animals are our soft spot and superb comfort.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), “23 million American households acquired a pet during the COVID-19 crisis, and most will not consider rehoming their pet.”
If they could talk, our pets would likely mention loyalty, happiness, and starting every day with a reset of a new dawn. Dogs and cats don’t go to war, aren’t petty or vengeful, and are very forgiving. Your goldfish, rabbit, or horse doesn’t have an iPhone or an Instagram account. They never expect an allowance or a different dinner every night. They don’t overspend or gamble. And they never, ever talk back or argue.
Animals ask for very little in return for what they offer us. They are never rude or yell.
They are not greedy or materialistic. They have sincere gratitude for a meal, a bowl of water, and a cuddle. They are the best of human characteristics without the worst. Occasionally, a chewed shoe or begging for food is the only mischief I can associate with our dogs.
I have seen the quote, “Be the person your dog thinks you are.” I may lean in a bit more with our remaining dog, Georgie.
Perhaps this is a worthy New Year’s resolution to be the best version of myself, the one I see reflected in my dog’s eyes.