Anonymous Author…finished by Ms. Carol Conner

ON THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
ALL ‘ROUND THE WORLD,
OUR SOLDIERS KEEP WATCH
‘NEATH OLD GLORY UNFURLED.

NO STOCKINGS, NO MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS ON THE FLOOR
AND HEARTS MISSING HOME
ON A FAR DISTANT SHORE.

SOON ‘ROUND OUR NATION
THE CHILDREN WILL PLAY
AND OPEN THEIR GIFTS
ON A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

EACH CHILD ENJOYS FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS
WHO CANNOT BE NEAR.

I GAZE AT THE STAR
ON MY SMALL CHRISTMAS TREE.
I CRAWL IN MY BED
IN A LAND THAT IS FREE.

I KNOW WHEN I WAKE
IT WILL BE CHRISTMAS MORN,
AND I PRAY THAT TRUE LOVE
IN EACH HEART WILL BE BORN

AND WILL SPREAD TO THE ENDS
OF THE EARTH FAR AWAY,
SO THAT NO ONE KEEPS WATCH
COME THE NEXT CHRISTMAS DAY.

GOD PROTECT ALL OUR SOLDIERS
FOR THIS DO WE PRAY.
WATCH OVER EACH ONE
AND SHOW THEM THE WAY.

THE WAY HOME TO SAFETY
TO BATTLE NO MORE
THE WAY TO A VICTORY
THAT ENDS STRIFE AND WAR.

THE WAY TO A PEACE
WHERE WE ALL HAVE A VOICE
WHERE EACH SOUL CAN WORSHIP
AND ALL CAN REJOICE

BE YOU ALLAH, OR YAHWEH,
OR JESUS, THE CHRIST,
GIVE US GRACE FOR THE JOURNEY
THAT LEADS TO INSIGHT.

TO A WORLD THAT WILL TREAT
EVERYONE JUST THE SAME
SO THAT NO ONE KILLS OTHERS
WHILE INVOKING YOUR NAME.

FOR PEACE IS A SEED
THAT FEAR TRIES TO KILL.
A SEED ALL MUST PLANT
DOWN DEEP IN THEIR WILL.

IT SAYS I’LL CHOOSE LOVE
EACH STEP OF THE WAY —
EVERY MOMENT, EVERY MINUTE
THEN BECOMES CHRISTMAS DAY.