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The Sands Of CHRISTmas
I had no CHRISTmas spirit when I breathed a weary sigh,
and looked across the table where the bills were piled too high.
The laundry wasn't finished and the car I had to fix,
My stocks were down another point, the Chargers lost by six.
And so with only minutes till my son got home from school
I gave up on the drudgery and grabbed a wooden stool.
The burdens that I carried were about all I could take,
and so I flipped the TV on to catch a little break.
I came upon a desert scene in shades of tan and rust,
No snowflakes hung upon the wind, just clouds of swirling dust.
And where the reindeer should have stood before a laden sleigh,
eight Humvees ran a column right behind an M1A.
A group of boys walked past the tank, not one was past his teens,
Their eyes were hard as polished flint, their faces drawn and lean.
They walked the street in armor with their rifles shouldered tight,
their dearest wish for CHRISTmas, just to have a silent night.
Other soldiers gathered, hunkered down against the wind,
To share a scrap of mail and dreams of going home again.
There wasn't much at all to put their lonely hearts at ease,
They had no CHRISTmas, turkey, just a pack of MREs.
They didn't have a garland or a stocking I could see,
They didn't need an ornament--they lacked a CHRISTmas tree.
They didn't have a present even though it was tradition,
the only boxes I could see were labeled "ammunition."
I felt a little tug and found my son now by my side,
He asked me what it was I feared, and why it was I cried.
I swept him up into my arms and held him oh so near
and kissed him on the forehead as I whispered in his ear.
There's nothing wrong my little son, for safe we sleep tonight,
our heroes stand on foreign land to give us all the right,
to worry on the things in life that mean nothing at all,
instead of wondering if we will be the next to fall.
He looked at me as children do and said it's always right,
to thank the ones who help us and perhaps that we should write.
And so we pushed aside the bills and sat to draft a note,
to thank the many far from home, and this is what we wrote:
God bless you all and keep you safe, and speed your way back home.
Remember that we love you so, and that you're not alone.
The gift you give you share with all, a present every day,
You give the gift of liberty and that we can't repay.
©2003 Michael Marks:
"I freely submit this poem for reprint without reservation...
This is an open and grateful tribute to the Men and Women
who serve every day to keep our nation safe."
Heavenly Father, may your protection
be upon American and Coalition Troops
on this CHRISTmas day and in this hour.
May they call on You and
know the reality of Psalm 91 that says,
"For You have made the Lord, my refuge,
even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall, you, nor will any
plague come near your tent. For He will
give His angels charge concerning you,
to guard you in all your ways" (vss. 9-11).
Father, bless their families in this hour and let
them feel your comfort that only you can provide...
Father, bless our President, Government,
Coalition World leaders and Troops
Give them wisdom and courage to face and defeat
the enemy and help us persevere until the end.
Father, bring this war to an end and let all
Nations come together so the world
may live in peace...
We ask this in Jesus name,
Amen
With Love to our brave Servicemen and Woman
and their families
from our hearts and home to yours
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