To All The Men & Women Fighting This Christmas…..Thank You…..Merry Christmas
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 THEN HAD COME TO 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 AND ALONE
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER
IT WASN’T 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 HAD 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 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 CHRISTMAS DAY IS SECURE.
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.
Written by a Marine.
Be Blessed
Pastor Millard’
