So it has been a while since I have last posted and I thought I would at least wish you all a Merry Christmas and provide you with a poem that touches home to my family at this time of year.


T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE,

MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.


I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY,

WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO,

IN THIS HOME, DID LIVE.


I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,

A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,

NOT EVEN A TREE.


NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,

JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES,

OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.


WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT,

CAME THROUGH MY MIND.


FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.


THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,

SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR,

IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.


THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

THE ROOM IN DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED,

A TRUE AMERICAN SOLDIER.


WAS THIS THE HERO,

OF WHO'M ID JUST READ?


CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,

THE FLOOR FOR A BED?


I REALISED THE FAMILIES,

THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS,

WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.


SOON ROUND THE WORLD,

THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE,

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.


THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM

EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.


I COULDN'T HELP WONDER,

HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE,

IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.


THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT,

A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES,

AND STARTED TO CRY.


THE SOLDIER AWAKENED,

AND I HEARD A VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY,

THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;


I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,

I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD,

MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.."


THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,

I CONTINUED TO WEEP.


I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,

SO SILENT AND STILL,

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED,

FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.


I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE,

ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR,

SO WILLING TO FIGHT.


THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."


ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,

AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.


"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."


This poem was written by a peacekeeping soldier stationed overseas and requested:


PLEASE. WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN? CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND SOME CREDIT IS DUE TO ALL OF THE SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES. LET'S TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY A TINY BIT OF WHAT WE OWE.


MAKE PEOPLE STOP AND THINK OF OUR HEROES, LIVING AND DEAD, WHO SACRIFICED THEMSELVES FOR US, PLEASE, DO YOUR SMALL PART TO PLANT THIS SMALL SEED.


My small part is typing this poem to share to you all. As my last day at work before my Christmas break, I attended a luncheon with fellow co-workers talking of Christmas plans. I began to weep because going home for this Christmas meant no brother to share the memories with and I became sad with fearing the unknown of what is going on over there. I feared for his safety and loneliness from family. I felt emptiness for my only sibling off at war.


Earlier that day I had talked to a mother at work from one of the pre schools I am over who asked me what my Christmas plans were. I told her of a family party we have each Christmas Eve and then smirked that this Christmas we won't be doing much because my brother is off in Afghanistan.


She then cried to me explaining that her family does nothing to celebrate but that she is okay with that. She is okay because she is happy to be with her children and create her own memories. She is a single mother who struggles with the basic necessities to provide her children let alone presents from Santa this year. The mother cried tears of joy expressing her thanks to me for the soldiers who fight for our freedom to celebrate Christmas and to enjoy peace and happiness. She was happy to live in a place so free where she doesn't have to worry for her children's safety. She was so grateful and apologized for weeping but I then explained to her that I was grateful she said what she did and that I didn't realize that before. I said that I would remember to share with my family to not be sad this Christmas. but to be happy because the soldiers would want you to. They are fighting for our freedom to celebrate how we please.


As a sister of a soldier I can only imagine how it feels to be a wife or a mother. I have not felt remorse until that moment on the luncheon table. I am now okay knowing of what I shared with you and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas knowing of the sacrifice that is being made for your freedom to celebrate.