Wednesday 10 December 2008

Please take time to Read this

I was doing my usual blog hopping this morning and came across this poem on Traceys inspirational blog. Please take time to read it at this special time of year. It made me stop and think and pay tribute to all our forces who are not going to be at home for christmas and who do the best job in the world of keeping us all safe here at home. I know some of you have members of family who are doing this very job, and im thinking of you with extra fondness at this moment. Please read and pass on. Hugs Linda x

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

T'WAS 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 DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED,
AN AUSTRALIAN 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 LAW.

" 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 DID NOT 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."

This poem was written by an AustralianPeacekeeping soldier stationed overseas.
The following is His request.

I think it is reasonable PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of Sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will beComing soon and some credit is due to all of the 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. Regardless of our political persuasions, regardless of our colour, creed or religion, regardless of our age or our sex, we undoubtedly owe our freedom and safety to our heroes in the forces, I for one spent some quiet time today thinking of those brave men and women in foreign lands, far from home.

GOD BLESS OUR FORCES AND SECURE THEIR SAFE RETURN HOME.

19 comments:

The Crafty Blonde said...

Wow that is a very moving poem. I will put this on my blog as well to keep it going.
Lyndsey xx
On a much happier note, I love all your latest creations havent been on for a while, so this post covers all of them.
Lyndsey xx

Andrea, said...

Beautiful poem Linda

Becky said...

Beautiful poem, I think Christmas is a difficult time for all those on their own, not just soldiers, it makes you appreciate your family and friends all the more.
Love Becky xx

CraftyC said...

A beautiful poem, quite moving. Thanx for posting it Linda!
Clairex

Crafting Queen said...

How wonderful, thanks for sharing

Debbie said...

Oh what a beautiful poem Linda, it has literally moved me to tears. Yhanks for sharing it with us.
Also wanted to say that I love your latest creations, they are all beautiful. Debbie x

Macpurp said...

this is a beautiful poem, I will also pass it on xx

Tasha said...

This poem made me cry, i realised that i was one of those very people that take what i have for granted. And its not just the current soldiers we should be thankful for but those who fought in wars of old. I think they dont get enough respect or praise for the job they have done or do
hugs
Tasha xx

Lesley said...

hi huni...thanx 4 sharing this beautiful poem.....xx u have an emial...luv n hugs Lesley xx

gina g said...

wow how moving is that, best wipe away the tears. luv gina xx

Donna said...

Thank you Linda for sharing this with everyone, Obviously I think of them all everyday and miss my wee man terribly but i am so lucky that I can still get to talk to him on the phone now and again, my thought's go out to the families that can't do that anymore. Oh in tears now, I'm going to put this on my blog now. Hugs Donna x

Macpurp said...

noyt sure if your email is still playing up. can you email me your addy again please darl?
i had on on my lap top that died!
*making note to self...WRITE address's done in address book too!*

love teen xx

Jeanette said...

Thnak you for posting this. We all need to stop and think, especially this time of the year when it is all too easy to get caught up and forget! Hugs Jeanette

Debbie said...

Oooh Linda how moving and touching is that poem - it definitely makes you pause for thought.:) :)
Will put it on my blog now. :)

xxDebbiexx

Turid Mari said...

Such a moving poem!! Made me think about what's most important! Thank you for sharing!! :)

The cards you've made lately are so pretty!! Looove the precious moments stamps to.. So sad that we cant get them in Norway!

Have a nice night!
Hugs!

mueppi said...

What a beautiful poem, Linda!!
I wish you a wonderful christmastime!
Hugs from germany
Gisela

maddy hill said...

oh gosh Dawny im sat here with tears rolling down my eyes .... makes you think doesnt it ... My boyfriend calv is an ex mp... so to me that peom even more pulled my heart strings - its something that i wouldnt even want to ask if he went through and just bear it if he had done .. there are so many ex service men too that are alone this time of year , some who you proberly wouldnt even know - some end up on the street , we pass them by not giving a thought when these people have not only served for our freedom but saved lives to ... and the terrible things that they went through to do this for us .. we forget ... they remember ... and thats why they are there ... they remember too much ... so that drunk on the street ...that drinks to numb the memories ... could in actually fact be a real life hero ..
yes that peom makes you think ..
thank you for posting it Dawny xxxx

maddy hill said...

Sorry LINDA ! i went for reading dawnys blog candy to reading the peom - silly twit me had dawns name on my brain - sorry ! xxx
thank you for posting the peom Linda xxxxxxxxx

Kristine said...

What a touching poem! I have family members overseas right now and I know they miss their families a great deal. May the Lord Bless them richly as they "serve" and hope they all get a chance to see, talk to, get mail from their loved ones this Christmas. Hugsxx

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