A Different Christmas Poem, Ot

Pain Pills
1
A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

2
oh my goodness...............that was beautiful...........

thank you for posting that...................

guess what stephy.................

I GOT A NEW LAP TOP FOR CHRISTMAS FROM MY MOM............

i am having fun here................

love you

thumper
3
how lucky you are!!!
i wish i had one....
did you open your present early?
darn it, i just broke another tooth, just had one fixed last week...
how is your ear thumper? jewels
4
That is so cool. I have always wanted one of those. I bet your so excited.

I am just sittin here eating apples with dip, you know that one apple dip with cream cheese and marshmellow creme that I was telling you about the other day.

SO whatcha up to besides playing with your new computer? How was your day.



Hi K-9! how are you?
5
I just wanted to share with you guys this awesome song that I am learning to play on the guitar. It is a really beautiful song and makes me cry when I really listen to the words. It is more of an Easter song though.

How Deep The Fathers Love For Us

How deep the fathers love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That he would give his only son
To make a wretch his treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The father turns his face away
As wounds which mar the chosen one
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
my guilt upon his shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the Scoffers

It was my sin that held him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powers, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from his reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
6
hello jewels and stephy..............

oh the ear still is majorly plugged up and still hurts......
i just took the antibiotic.........

thank you so much for asking...........

yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
that dip sounds soooooooooo good ...........and what a healthy snack stephy....

yep i am havin fun with this lap top, but it is weird cause i keep like putting my right had to the side to grab a mouse................LOL
i really have to get use to this flat mouse thing, i dont even know what it is called.......................but i like it cause now i can sit on the couch........

and hubby can see me and he wont think i am having an affair in the computer room........LOL............

i know i should go to bed............i am to excited......lol

that song is just beautiful stephy, i love that..............

thumper
7
i just now read what you said about me.................
on rae's thread............

stephy.......thank you..........you are so nice...............
i am so glad that the Lord crossed our paths..............

i am so touched and all i can say is..........i love you stephy.............

thumper
8
hi stephy
hi thumper
i was reading this thread last night and i fell asleep at the computer!
so i just woke up and now i can post back
thumper is having fun with her laptop.
i was supposed to decorate my 2nd tree yesterday but i didint get around to it. didnt get the villages done either. my tuesday haircut client shows up on mon!
i cant wait until 8 am to call the dentist!!!!!!!!!! i took a good hunk off my molar and it is sharp on my tongue, last week i was eating a starburst and broke a piece if tooth off ! that tooth had a hole where it broke off and food was getting jammed up into it and my gums were so swollen and sore.
i start mon @ 8:30 to work mondays in the nursing home styling the residents hair.so thats 3 jobs to deal with!
yesterday at the dermatologist office the dr removed 36 age and sun spots from my face!, I am so vain and i took a magnifying glass to my face and circled all the ones i wanted him to take off. he takes liquid nitrogen to burn them off, they are bubbled up now and then will scab up, its gonna look like a major case of acne before it heals.
i was emailed this same poem too stephy.
i dont have one gift bought yet, no money....Christmas is what 3 weks a way? k-9 jewels
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Well that sucks about your tooth. I have a friend who broke her tooth and it was like that for a while. She told me how much the sharp part hurt. I took her to the dentist to have it pulled and she was so relieved afterwards.

I know what you mean about having no money, that is why I haven't boughten anything. I am just going to not stress about it and give it to God.

10
thats a very healthy wayof dealing with it stephy. just give it to God.