Our Guardians of Honor at Christmas

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