It’s was Christmas Day 1915 when the guns fell silent and a remarkable event took place. Celebrate Christmas, but remember, Freedom is not free. Lest we forget.

And let’s give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy

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 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 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 Australian Peacekeeping 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? It’s the night before Christmas 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.


You may also like

History Teaches But We Don't Learn
03:30
Plus 34 facts from World War II you may not know
Inspiring Young Girl With No Legs
Plus another lesson in gratitude for what you have
Seniors Know How To Have Some Fun
04:10
Plus a few jokes about seniors & their life journey
Are Donald & Melania Coming Back?
Plus you know Donald, but do you know Melania?
No Legs, No Arms, No Problem, I Can
Plus a tear jerker about how perseverance pays off
2 Stories About Inspiring Others
Plus 30 observations on life, living and learning
The Fastest Man On Two Hands
Plus some inspirational quotes and observations
Babo The Blind Ice Skating Dancer
Plus another inspiring story of disaster & survival
The Human Computer Maths Genius
Plus 17 women inventors with creative mind skills
Empathy & Imagination From Stranger
Plus 34 other sights this man can only imagine
A Tear Jerker - Get The Tissues Out
Plus 21 inspirational memes with a similar theme
2 Seniors Sire & Inspire Children
Plus 27 senior's memes, adding humour to old age
Alcoholic To Olympic Gold Medals
Plus 30 other inspirational people & life quotes
Happy Days With Cats, Ducks & Buskers
And the Inspirational story of buskers James & Bob
Charles Schultz Was Sparky The Loser
Plus Charles Schulz Philosophy & Peanuts cartoons
Page 1 of 2
Categories:

0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Avatar placeholder

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *