~*Chrismases Gone By*~ |
THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS
As I pulled the drapes open and looked out
into the cold crisp winter night,
and stood watching the moonlight on the snow
and the twinkling Christmas lights.
the fantastic display of the snowflakes
as the circled and swayed
Picked up the colors of the lights
in each glorious shade.
The sky was aglow the the wonders
of this magic time of the year
and I watched as each blue white star blinked,
both far and near.
It took my thoughts back to those Christmases
so long ago
to the time of my childhood
and the deep cold winter snow.
I could see myself, as I had been then,
sitting close to the tree
with the fantasy of childhood dreams
and miracles on that Christmas Eve.
I could see that little girl rocking
and holding an old ragged doll,
Last Christmas' baby, as she said,
" I love you most of all".
As I watched years go by
on the panorama of my mind
each Christmas Eve had a new special meaning,
the glorious beauty of time.
Now that little girl grew up and married
and then the real miracle began.
The babies she rocked near the tree
were all wonderful real ones.
As she put them down to sleep
and prepared for the long night ahead
she thanked the Lord of miracles
for the tiny ones asleep in their beds.
I turned from the window
thinking of this Christmas Eve.
and how the years had gone by with joy,
sadness and some grief.
I thought of my son who had been taken
just one short year ago.
I could see his big smile,
and hear his great booming laughter I loved so.
I felt him close by me,
I knew he missed us all too.
And I knew if he could,
he'd tell us this was all true.
I choked back the tears
though the heartache was so strong,
for I know that he would want me to know
that he wasn't really gone.
Then my thoughts turned to the other kids
who were so far away
feeling a great sense of loss
that they weren't here today.
Then I began thinking again
of those Christmases gone by,
and a lump rose in my throat
and tears flooded my eyes.
I thought of each child
and the blessings they'd been.
and as the love filled my heart
a new magic began.
each blessing I counted,
and I wrote them all down,
so I could read them each Christmas Eve
as it rolled around.
I'd wanted to give each child
their own special world,
and see them all happy
as each day unfurled.
But times had been rough then
when they were all growing up
and sometimes the money
was just not enough.
But the Christmases we shared
were all full of joy
with presents under the tree
and just enough toys.
Christmas turkey and dressing
and food for a king
were all on our table,
we had everything.
We were then all together
and now I realize,
that the miracle of birth
was by greatest prize.
As each child came along
I loved them all so,
and marveled with pride
as I watched them grow.
I turned back to the window
and looked out into the magic night,
and I thanked God again for each blessing
with all of my heart.
and I asked him to care for all those
I love so dear,
both those far away and
those that are near.
And I thanked him for teaching me
the magic of Christmas
and ask Him that I might never forget
that his love lingers near us
I thanked Him for all these blessings
as my heart swelled with love
A love for my husband, my children,
and this miracle from God
~*By Shirley Winters*~
This poem is a little out of season but because it is the only poem
that I have ventured to write about Ruly, my son I wanted to
share it with others. It was written one year after his death in 1976.
I Was so touched by this poem when I read it
that I just had to
put it up on my Christmas Page.
'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.
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
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,
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 a Marine stationed in
Okinawa Japan. The
following is his request. I think it is
reasonable.....*~
PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending
this to as many people as
you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some
credit is due to our U.S.
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.
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