The true meaning of Christmas

I felt that I should write a blog about what is important about Christmas instead of just presents like my last blog. I know that what is important about Christmas is the birth of the One who saved us and showed us the way and is our hope and joy. He showed us what it truly means to have "goodwill to man". May we try to follow His example and be a little kinder, a little holier.

switching roles

For Christmas every year it was my role in the family to wake everyone up and horribly early hours and drag them down the stairs for presents. It is my parents role to whine and say "go back to bed just a little longer..." I thought this year would be no different. However, when my 2 year old son woke up at 2:30 in the morning, I tried desperately to put him back to sleep for an hour and finally gave up and opened our presents. At 5 am I told Sandi I'd take a shower and then go to my mom's house for more presents...so naturally Topaz fell back asleep. I decided to shut my eyes and rest just for a minute only to wake up to my mom calling telling me to hurry up she wanted to open presents....

The rain came down...

...and the floods came up, but the house on the hill stayed dry. Laie has been flooding, the sewers backed up, lots of people in Laie have lost carpet and furniture. However, our house is on a hill and although it rained we had no problems. It made us grateful we had so much trouble finding a house because we got one that remained safe. It has also been amazing to see our faith in actions as neighbors lend other neighbors help. Here's some pictures of the flooding:

A solider's Christmas

Just a poem to make you think......
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."