We received this wonderful, beautiful, thoughtful and most honorable Christmas poem today. We reprint it here for all to share. We set aside our politics, our fears and doubts for our troubled world, and our sadness for those who wish us harm.
You know of someone that this poem is talking about. Let us all give thanks, praise, support and love to those who serve to protect us.
IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE
TWAS 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 THE MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR, DISTANT LANDS
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES AND 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 OF THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER
NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE AMERICAN SOLDIER
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I’D JUST READ
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO THE FLOOR FOR A BED
I REALIZED 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 ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE
I COULDN’T HELP WONDER HOW MANY 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 ROUGH 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 SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL
I DIDN’T 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”
We share this with you in hopes you will take a moment and think about how fortunate we are to be secure thanks to the brave mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors…all who serve this country.
This poem was shared with us by a young widow who recently lost her husband in service to you, me and everyone everywhere who values all that is good on this earth.
Mermaid Cottages is honored and proud to sponsor and support puppies to be trained as guide dogs and service dogs to persons with disabilities through the proceeds from our Beach Bum Biscuits. These guide dogs and service dogs also serve our honored veterans living with injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH
AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME
