Although it is not a Christmas tradition, perhaps it would be wise for us to each take just a moment to reflect on Chesterton-s dictum that the only difference between a dog and man is that a dog is never ungrateful. When people ask what should be our prevailing sentiment at Christmastime, I always tell them that it should be gratitude. By that I don-t mean the gratitude that brings us to elicit, over and over, the maxim that -it is better to give than to receive.- Nor am I speaking of the gratitude that we should have at Christmastime for those who remember us with entertainment or gifts or personal service.