twas the night before christmas and all through the land
every soldier was stirring with guns in their hand
no stockings were hung by the chimneys there
A palpable silence hung in the air
We civilians were nestled all snug in our beds
while the thought if our safety hung in their heads
With Johnson on duty, and Smith at his right
We were assured, a snug winter's night
When out from the East there arose such a clatter
Johnson sighted in, to see what was the matter
Calmly and steady he scanned the hillside
Then he chuckled and said, "Everything's alright."
The sun on the sand did little for heat
And standing for hours is hard on the feet
When what to exhausted eyes did appear
Airman Rio to say that shift change is near!
With his weapon at ready, eyes wide from his rest
He took on our safety, another best of the best.
He'd been dreaming of Christmas, the dinner at least
And he'd dreamed of his mama preparing the feast
The Goose and the Roast and the puddings and yams
The taters, and pies and the cranberry jam!
To the fun and the laughter, the family and friends
His mom and his dad, their love without end.
These thoughts flooded silence as he sat still his post
Remembering those at home he loved most.
The reason he sat in this very spot
The safety, the security, he's afforded this lot.
He's dressed all in green, from his head to his toe
Camouflaged smartly, and ready to go.
His M16 gun, he had slung on his back
Socks and MRE's he had stuffed in his pack
His eyes, always scanning, his ears on alert
His mouth always silent, his seat in the dirt,
His hair is cut high, like a soldiers must be
The words "do or die", he can look down to see
The soldiers give every part of themselves
And I pray when I see them in spite of my self
"Sweet Father please keep them safe and warm,
And deliver them Lord, from any and all harm,
Thank You for soldiers, who keep safe our land
Give them strength and endurance, from Your Mighty hand
On this Christmas Eve, while nestled in our beds,
May we all give thanks, with a bowing of heads,
For the men and the women, standing all night
To keep us all safe, til the dawns early light,
For every moment sacrificed, with ones that they love,
That they should be guarded by the One from above."
Jennifer Grimm 12 24 2010
*The Jesus Loving Princess*
*Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Luke 6:22 *
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