A choice

There is a YouTube video that is circulating around right now that has Santa narrating “The Night Before Christmas” with a soldier twist on it. Santa comes across a house that looks different. It has boots and gear and guns scattered around. He sees soldiers sleeping alone in cots; no family, no decorations, no tree or presents. He sees soldiers who are at home but alone because they’ve given their lives to the military, and he sees some deployed fighting for our freedom. At one point, late in the poem, he has a conversation with a soldier and what the soldier says in reply to Santa’s sad apology really struck me. The soldier said “don’t be sorry, Santa, this life is my choice”.

It is true: it’s a choice. For one reason or another, our servicemen and women have made this choice for their lives and they do not need anyone to be sorry for them. Some join for college money, some join for medical care, some join because they have an inner calling deep in their hearts. Whatever their reason, they made a choice. The men and women who made that choice after September 11 knew what was at stake and what would most likely be asked, and they still raised their hands and took their oath.

Don’t be sorry.

Don’t look at their pictures on the news and be sorry that they are alone on Christmas. Don’t squish your face up with sadness (like mine is right now as I write) and feel anything for them that could resemble sorrow.

Be thankful.

Be thankful for their choice. Be thankful for their sacrifice. Be thankful for their moms and dads, their brothers and sisters, their wives and children, who stand beside them and support them so that they can defend your freedom. Be thankful that there are people strong enough to endure the sacrifices that they have made. Be thankful that we live in a country that is so great that men and women line up to defend her.

When you wake up on Christmas morning, if you get to see your family hug them extra tight. Give them hugs and kisses and enjoy your holiday together. Whether that holiday includes an over abundance of presents, a few presents, or none at all – remember the reason for Christmas and be thankful for all the blessings in your life. Be sure to give an extra hug and say an extra prayer for the soldiers who are alone, but don’t be sad. They don’t want you to be sorry.


- manda