'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 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 SUCH DISORDER NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES 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 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 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 SHIVERED FROM HE 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"
SO WITH THIS SAID PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE BRAVE SOLDIERS WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM AND THE BEST PRESENT WE CAN GIVE THEM IS TO LIVE LIFE GRACIOUSLY AND BLISSFULLY..PLEASE KEEP THEM ALL IN YOUR PRAYERS AND MAY GOD BRING THEM HOME SOON AND SAFE...WE LOVE YOU ALL
Rosa,
