Re: Christmas Giving -- War Stories!

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Date Posted: Fri, December 19 2008, 20:36:45
Author: Pat (Beanie) Camunes
Author Host/IP: cpe-68-203-162-31.satx.res.rr.com / 68.203.162.31
Subject: Re: Christmas Giving
In reply to: Don Poss 's message, "Christmas Giving" on Fri, December 19 2008, 12:46:01

Great �Christmas Giving� story, Don. I�ve been down in the dumps for various reasons and wasn�t really looking forward to the holidays. Now, after taking the count of grandkids, nieces, nephews and so many other family members and friends I realize that I am truly blessed for having such a �long� list.

During Christmas of �67 we gathered around a Chaplain for a midnight service. I hadn�t been in Vietnam for long and had just gotten used to the constant pop of flares, outgoing artillery fire and the sounds of war that were so ever present in the distant. I remember sitting on the bright red dirt and not worrying about getting soiled and only waiting for the clock to hit that midnight hour for that celebration of birth.

As it neared midnight, the flares near and afar seemed to diminish and the thundering artillery slowed to a halt. As I looked up into the sky that night the trailing smoke of flares slowly cleared and the sky opened up to the clearest and most beautiful view of shining stars I have ever seen.

Even the sounds and thuds of distant war and battles ceased and I was in such awe that I don�t even remember what the Chaplain�s words were that evening. All I can say is that if there is ever �real� peace on earth . . . I truly feel that I experienced it for at least a short time that night so many years ago in Vietnam.

There are so many of us that have experienced being away from home and their loved ones during a special time as this . . . and many more that are unfortunately fixing to experience it for the first time.

Throughout hundreds of thousands of years there has always been an unfortunate stalemate as to achieving that peace on earth. And many have suffered and sacrificed so much to this day to reach that threshold of peace. I can only pray that one-day our children�s children or their children get to experience the true �peace on earth� that has been sought for so long.

A Merry and especially Safe Christmas holiday to all. . . . . . . . Pat (Beanie) Camunes

I add the following poem or prayer (author unknown) in that it fits so well in the way we live today:

Dear Lord,

Every single evening
As I'm lying here in bed,
This tiny little Prayer
Keeps running through my head:

God bless all my family
Wherever they may be,
Keep them warm and safe from harm
For they're so close to me.

And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do;
Hope you don't mind me asking,
Please bless my computer too.

Now I know that it's unusual
To Bless a motherboard,
But listen just a second
While I explain it to you, Lord.

You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds and ends;
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my friends.

I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give,
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me into where they live.

By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you.
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendships grew.

Please take an extra minute
From your duties up above,
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love.

Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
Bless each e-mail inbox
And each person who hits 'send'.

When you update your Heavenly list
On your own Great CD-ROM,
Bless everyone who says this prayer
Sent up to GOD.com

Amen

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Replies:

Great poem you sent, Pat! -- Don Poss, Fri, December 19 2008, 23:18:54 (cpe-75-82-158-38.socal.res.rr.com/75.82.158.38)