The end of the year is upon us and the hopefulness of this time fills our hearts and minds. Some may grow anxious if they are hosting one of the many nights of feasting which shall take place, others for the travel they must make. Take a deep breath and realize that you and you alone control how you will feel this time around. If you want to be anxious, that is your choice. If your wish is to remain calm, then you can do that as well. Even Ralph Cramden in The Honeymooners was able to stay clam for a short period of time with his Needles and Pins rhyme (look it up if you are not familiar—you will get a laugh). Let me share my blessings with you all this year:
I am healthy—fat but healthy and my kids are healthy and I will see all 3 this Christmas Eve.
My girlfriend’s father is surprisingly healthy after a very rough year. Medical science is amazing. And all others in my immediate circle are healthy.
Christmas Eve will see about 30 people over the house for much joy, revelry and fish.
Business has been good—not great—but the people on the RB Jones team make work fun and pleasant. Liking what you do is a state of mind for many—always see the fun and joy. And know that whatever trade you work in, you do make a difference. Otherwise, you would not be on the job as “the man” would get rid of you.
We are safe. The people on this distribution list do not generally need to worry about being safe. Our much-maligned protectors of the civil order are there protecting our streets and our houses. We are blessed to have them.
And on that note, I saw this poem posted by the retired Deacon Rich Roenbeck. This holiday season, continue to pray for our men and women around d the globe keeping the flame of liberty burning bright. We owe them so so much.
A SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS POEM TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE, IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE. I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE, AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE. I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE, NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE. NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND, ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS. WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS, A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND. FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY, I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY. THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE, CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME. THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER, NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER. WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I’D JUST READ? CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED? I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT, OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT. SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY, AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY. THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE. I COULDN’T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE, ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME. 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.” THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP, I COULDN’T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP. I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL. I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT, THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT. THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE, WHISPERED, “CARRY ON SANTA, IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.” ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT, MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.
Enjoy this time of year my friends. Cherish your time with family. They will not be with you forever. Kiss the cook, pet the dogs and multiply your blessings with each encounter you have with your friends and family.
All the best and I look forward to continuing hearing from you all throughout 2025.