A poem to share and maybe a little more......
A Different Christmas Poem
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."
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC,
USN30th Naval Construction RegimentOIC,
Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
I just thought that I would share this with everyone. Don't forget about our troops during the holidays.
I would also like to write about something else. I just got done reading D's post. First let me start by saying thank you to her for doing the right thing. There's no need to hide any of the stuff that's going on. I believe that it's better to be honest than to lie or even bend the truth. I also pray for my family (Me, Mindy, and Lilly) that everything will turn out for the best.
I would also like everyone to know that I haven't given up on them either. I love my family more than anything. I did what I did because I think it's best for them and me in this whole situation as of right now. I will never give up on them. Giving ourselves space is a wonderful thing sometimes. It gives us all time to think about what's really important to us. I think there is a few songs out there that reference to this statement and boy is it true, "You don't realize what you got until it's gone."
If I could say that I've learned anything from this whole situation it's that sometimes it's better to be yourself than to try and please people all the time. Remember this, don't ever be afraid to be yourself and love truly, one doesn't work without the other. We need to remind ourselves daily of this in more ways than one.
Now that I'm done writing about that I thought it would be nice to say once again, THANKS!!!, to everyone for being there for me and my family. Love you guys.
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."
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC,
USN30th Naval Construction RegimentOIC,
Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
I just thought that I would share this with everyone. Don't forget about our troops during the holidays.
I would also like to write about something else. I just got done reading D's post. First let me start by saying thank you to her for doing the right thing. There's no need to hide any of the stuff that's going on. I believe that it's better to be honest than to lie or even bend the truth. I also pray for my family (Me, Mindy, and Lilly) that everything will turn out for the best.
I would also like everyone to know that I haven't given up on them either. I love my family more than anything. I did what I did because I think it's best for them and me in this whole situation as of right now. I will never give up on them. Giving ourselves space is a wonderful thing sometimes. It gives us all time to think about what's really important to us. I think there is a few songs out there that reference to this statement and boy is it true, "You don't realize what you got until it's gone."
If I could say that I've learned anything from this whole situation it's that sometimes it's better to be yourself than to try and please people all the time. Remember this, don't ever be afraid to be yourself and love truly, one doesn't work without the other. We need to remind ourselves daily of this in more ways than one.
Now that I'm done writing about that I thought it would be nice to say once again, THANKS!!!, to everyone for being there for me and my family. Love you guys.
posted by Doug at 8:14 AM
4 Comments:
I like the soldier poem, it really hits home. I can't imagine being away from home for the holidays...
Hey Doug, we were sad to hear about your situation. It sounds like you have a good support network, but please remember that we too are still your friends and always will be so if you need a change of scenery or just someone to talk to, just give us a call we are always here for all of you.
Great poem,thanks for sharing it with us.
Doug - Things will work out, no matter how they are supposed to be. You are an awesome dad and Mindy is a terrific mom for your beautiful daughter. Ultimately, your friends are there (for both of you) through thick and thin. All we want is for you guys to be happy. (I know that sounds cliche, but you know what I mean.)
By the way, thanks for sharing that great poem. I like it a lot.
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