Plot Synopsis

Based on the novel by Greg Kincaid. George McCray, his wife Mary Ann and their developmentally-challenged 20 year-old son Todd are anticipating a happy - if uneventful - Christmas on their Kansas farm, when an unexpected "agent of change" enters their family, and lives. A local shelter has started a program to encourage families to "foster" a pet for the holidays; obviously hoping at least some of them will be permanently adopted. Todd wants to take part in the program but George is totally against the idea, he's had two difficult emotional experiences losing dogs, and he wants to protect Todd from disappointment. But with the help of his mom, Todd's persistence pays off and he chooses a friendly yellow lab and names him "Christmas." Bringing Christmas home is a revelation for George. The dog seems to know immediately that this is where he belongs. Watching Todd and Christmas together, George sees his son in a new light. And it soon becomes obvious that Christmas has actually "adopted" George, creating a bond that is stronger than past disappointments.