CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

I had no Christmas spirit when I breathed a weary sigh,
and looked across the table where the bills were piled too high.
The laundry wasn't finished and the car I had to fix,
My stocks were down another point, the Chargers lost by six.

And so with only minutes till my son got home from school
I gave up on the drudgery and grabbed a wooden stool.
The burdens that I carried were about all I could take,
and so I flipped the TV on to catch a little break.

I came upon a desert scene in shades of tan and rust,
No snowflakes hung upon the wind, just clouds of swirling dust.
And where the reindeer should have stood before a laden sleigh,
Eight Humvees ran a column right behind an M1A.

A group of boys walked past the tank, not one was past his teens,
Their eyes were hard as polished flint, their faces drawn and lean.
They walked the street in armor with their rifles shouldered tight,
Their dearest wish for Christmas, just to have a silent night.

Other soldiers gathered, hunkered down against the wind,
To share a scrap of mail and dreams of going home again.
There wasn't much at all to put their lonely hearts at ease,
They had no Christmas turkey, just a pack of MREs.

They didn't have a garland or a stocking I could see,
They didn't need an ornament--they lacked a Christmas tree.
They didn't have a present even though it was tradition,
the only boxes I could see were labeled "ammunition."

I felt a little tug and found my son now by my side,
He asked me what it was I feared, and why it was I cried.
I swept him up into my arms and held him oh so near
and kissed him on the forehead as I whispered in his ear.

There's nothing wrong my little son, for safe we sleep tonight,
our heroes stand on foreign land to give us all the right,
to worry on the things in life that mean nothing at all,
instead of wondering if we will be the next to fall.

He looked at me as children do and said it's always right,
to thank the ones who help us and perhaps that we should write.
And so we pushed aside the bills and sat to draft a note,
to thank the many far from home, and this is what we wrote:

"God bless you all and keep you safe, and speed your way back home.
Remember that we love you so, and that you're not alone.
The gift you give you share with all, a present every day,
You give the gift of liberty and that we can't repay."

Copyright 2003 Michael Marks: "I freely submit this poem for reprint
without reservation--this is an open and grateful tribute to the men and
women who serve every day to keep our nation safe."

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In the cookies of life, we are the chocolate chips.

Thank you, Lou. I always remember our young folks off in a hostile land ... especially at this time of year.

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Thank You, My brother will be there this week. :( My husband may not be far behind him either. . .no word yet, just that about 3,000 of the 82nd Airborne are on their way to supply security for their election and then to stay the year to 18 months they will be asked to stay once they get there.

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

Thanks, Lou for sharing.

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Thank you for the reminder to keep these Brave men and women in my thoughts throughout the year but especially this Season!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your husband not being chosen, Lori!

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yes...a very nice reminder.
I chatted with a bunch of young Marines on July 4, one day before they boarded planes to Baghdad. What struck me most was their naivity and young age. None were as old as my oldest son (25). Some were more like little boys, all pumped up about going over to Iraq...like it was some kind of vacation to look forward to. A couple confessed that they were scared. The mother in me wanted to hold them and cry. But the professional in me just listened and nodded as they spoke.
I'm sorry now that I didn't get more detailed information about their units. I would have liked to send them a Christmas gift. It's my understanding that gifts to the "generic" soldier overseas will not be accepted this year.

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Melissa

Wow, that was powerful!
We stopped by the Toys for Tots yesterday....there were Army soldiers and Marines out there, side by side, collecting toys. I guess whether they are in combat overseas or stateside, the military is always going about doing the right thing.

My Christmas wish is that they do indeed have a silent night, wherever they are. And that they get to have a New Year, with hopes of returning home safely.

Lori, please keep us posted.

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Lori, my heart goes out to you. Please do let us know what is happening with your family.

The price for freedom is so high - and we are so grateful.
Karen

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Wow, reading that brought a tear to my eyes!

My DSS (dear stepson) is goiing to Ft. Knox on Jan. 4, 2005, to train to be a tank commander. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant back in July. He has been waiting for his orders. His first two choices of training were Apache helicopters and tanks. I don't know which one his Dad and I feared worse! But it's what he wants, and we are extraordinarily proud of him for wanting to serve his Country and protect freedom for all of us.

He will train until May and then join his unit - from there, who knows?

I, too, wish a Silent Night for all our military, wherever they may be serving.

Char

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Veni, vidi, velcro. I came, I saw, I stuck around.

Save the Earth - it's the only planet with CHOCOLATE!