CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS ―The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.‖– Burton Hillis ―A lovely thing about Christmas is that it‘s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.‖– Garrison Keillor ―You know you‘re getting old, when Santa starts looking younger.‖ — Robert Paul ―Christmas is the season when people run out of money before they run out of friends.‖– Larry Wilde ―Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.‖– Norman Vincent Peale ―It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.‖– W. T. Ellis "So remember while December Brings the only Christmas day, In the year let there be Christmas In the things you do and say." -- Anonymous "Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. All else is outward displayso much tinsel and decorations. For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. It isn't the tree not the firelight's glow. It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again." -- Anonymous "One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." -- Andy Rooney "Christmas--that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance--a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved." -- Augusta E. Rundell "There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child." -- Erma Bombeck "At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. ... We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices." -- Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol)
A CHRISTMAS POEM FOR OUR SOLDIERS The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn‘t loud, and it wasn‘t too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn‘t quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. ―What are you doing?‖ I asked without fear, ―Come in this moment, it‘s freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!‖ For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.. To the window that danced with a warm fire‘s light Then he sighed and he said ―Its really all right , I‘m out here by choice. I‘m here every night.‖ ―It‘s my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I‘m proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at ‗ Pearl on a day in December,‖ Then he sighed, ―That‘s a Christmas ‗Gram always remembers.‖
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‗ Nam ‗, And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I‘ve not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he‘s sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue… an American flag. I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home. I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.‖ ―So go back inside,‖ he said, ―harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I‘ll be all right.‖ ―But isn‘t there something I can do, at the least, ―Give you money,‖ I asked, ―or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you‘ve done, For being away from your wife and your son.‖ Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, ―Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we‘re gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.‖
IRISH CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR The light of the Christmas star to you The warmth of home and hearth to you The cheer and good will of friends to you The hope of a childlike heart to you The joy of a thousand angels to you The love of the Son and God's peace to you. ~An Irish Christmas Blessing~ ―May peace and plenty be the first To lift the latch to your door, And happiness be guided to your home By the candle of Christmas.‖ ~Irish Blessing~ ―The magic of Christmas lingers on Though childhood days have passed Upon the common round of life A Holy Spell is cast.‖ ~Old Celtic Verse~ ―A turkey never voted for an early Christmas.‖ ~Irish Proverb~ May the new year bring The warmth of home and hearth to you. The cheer and goodwill of friends to you, The hope of a childlike heart to you. The joy of a thousand angels to you, The love of the Son and God's peace to you. ~Irish Blessing for the New Year~
A MARINE‘S CHRISTMAS This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable….. 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 our U.S. 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. 'Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone In a one bedroom house, made all of stone I had come down the chimney, with presents to give And to see just who, in the house, did live. As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree No stockings by the fire, just boots filled with sand On the wall hung pictures, of a distant land. With medals and badges, awards of all kinds And a sobering thought, came to my mind This house was different, unlike any I'd seen For this was the home of a U. S. Marine. I'd heard stories about them and I had to see more So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone Curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home. He seemed so gentle, his face so serene Not how I pictured a U. S. Marine Was this the hero of whom I'd just read Curled up on his poncho, a floor for his bed? His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan And I soon understood, this was more than a man For I realized, that the families I'd seen tonight Owed their lives to these men who were willing to fight. Soon round the nation, the children would play
And grown ups would celebrate, on a bright Christmas day They enjoyed freedom, each week and all year Because of Marines, like this one here. I couldn't help but wonder, how many lay alone On a cold Christmas Eve, in a land, far from home The thought brought a tear to my eye I dropped to my knees and started to cry. He must have awakened, for I heard a rough voice "Santa don't cry, for this is my choice I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more My life is my God, my Country, my Corps." With that he rolled over, and drifted off to sleep I couldn't control it and continued to weep I watched him for hours, so silent and still And noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill. So I took off my jacket, the one made of red And covered this Marine, from his toes to his head Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold With Eagle, Globe and Anchor, emblazoned so bold. And though it barely fit me, I swelled with pride And for this one shining moment, I was a Marine inside I didn't want to leave him, so quiet in the night The guardian of honor, so willing to fight. But half asleep, he rolled over and said so clean and pure "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas and all is secure." One look at my watch, and I knew he was right Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi! And good night. Author Unknown