Merry Christmas All!

A beautiful mild Christmas morning in southern New Brunswick. After getting up at 7am to open gifts and having a wonderful breakfast of eggs benedict, my daughter and I are sitting here watching her new Great Big Sea concert CD (Courage, Patience and Grit) tapping our feet and singing along with some great traditional Newfoundland folk music. If you've never heard these guys you're missing a real treat. We've been to several of their concerts and they really shine.

This is the time of year when I really notice the climate change going on around us. The Christmas mornings from my childhood were so different. They were usually cold and very white. Usually by Christmas day we had been through several major snow storms and had at least a few days off school due to these.

I vividly recall going outside on Christmas morning to play with a sled or a new pair of skates. I remember climbing a snow bank one Christmas morning and being able to touch the telephone wires with a stick. It's a far cry from the green grass outside this morning. I miss it.

The smells of Christmas are still very much the same; the turkey cooking, the fragrant stuffing, the fig pudding. Mom still works her magic, much the same as she has done for the past 50 years. My wife knows enough to stand aside when she's in the Christmas kitchen. My brother lives in Nova Scotia these days so it means we don't get to fight over the toys like we used to, although the days of the toy trains, racing car sets and action heroes seem to be far away.

As we look forward to a new year I wish peace and prosperity for all. We are truly blessed in Canada and I pray that we show God's love to all in 2007.

The Night Before Christmas by a soldier

A friend of mine forward this along. We both had dads in the services and have a special place in our hearts for those serving in our armed forces. Merry Christmas guys and thanks!

The Night Before Christmas

T'was 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 the 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 disorder,
Not how I pictured,
A Canadian 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.

Soon 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,
And drifted to sleep,
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 honour,
So willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
With a voice, soft and pure,
Whispered, "carry on Santa,
It's Christmas, 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 peace-keeping soldier stationed overseas.

The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our Canadian 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.

Amen.