It’s Christmas time again and instead of thinking about what presents to buy all I can think about is our military forces overseas. Spending the holidays defending your country is a supremely righteous thing to do and deserves the utmost respect from your fellow countrymen and women. But I can’t help but picture some 20 year old G.I. manning his post thinking about his family and wishing he was 10 years old again. Ten years old and sitting wide awake in bed on Christmas morning wondering if it’s still too early to wake up Mom and Dad so he can get to that tree and rip open all those presents with his name on them. How does he deal with that memory and still do his job of keeping us free?

And I think about that mom out there escorting a convoy on Christmas day… How does she do what her country has asked her to do knowing that she won’t be there when her kids wake up to see what Santa brought them?

And I ask myself; Where do we get these Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who volunteer to protect this country in such dangerous times? I signed up in 1978 during a time of peace and retired in 2000 without suffering any damage. If I were 18 today could I still make such a commitment? I honestly don’t know - but I thank God that there are fellow countrymen and women out there who will.

Every year about this time that poem about the lone G.I. standing his watch in the snow on Christmas Eve (and every other day) circulates and every year I read it and every year I get somewhat emotional about it. There are many versions of this poem but I’m gonna share just part of the one credited to Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt, USMC, written in 1986. When you’re done reading this please say a prayer for all those vigilantly guarding our freedoms in faraway lands.

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.”

Keep the Faith!
Revelator