No Boots for Christmas

If you are a military family then you know what I am talking about. When our babies come home, we are ecstatic about having their “boots” in the house again. Brings tears to my eyes thinking of all the families who will get to spend this Christmas with their Airman. (My boy is an Airman so I tend to focus more on the Air Force) Sadly, we will not be welcoming boots in our home this Christmas. I was given the following poem about not having boots in the home for the holidays. It is so moving. The original author is unknown.

*Get your tissue ready, this will have you in tears pretty quick.

I”ll have no boots for this season, underneath my Christmas tree.
I tried to keep my hopes up,
But it wasn’t meant to be.

I even wrote to Santa, so he wouldn’t be confused.
With the size that I wanted,
and how they would be used.

They’d be brown and mostly worn, and that was just fine.
Because the person wearing them, is what I have in mind.

I woke up Christmas morning, there were no boots to see.
Instead a note from Santa, is what was left for me:

I know you asked for “boots in the house”, I know I let you down.
But when I went to get the boots, this is what I found.

An Airman standing at the watch, and many working hard.
Several Airmen missing home while reading Christmas cards.

Christmas decorations were everywhere I roamed.
Seems they did their very best,
to make it feel like home.

I found the boots you asked for, neatly tucked away.
Inside there was a note for me,
so I’d know just what to say.

Santa….
Please tell my mom I miss her
and all the family too.
And as much as I would like to be home, I have a job to do.

I brought with me my memories of all my Christmas past.
That’s something to get me through a gift you cannot wrap.

I figured you’d ask Santa
to come and bring me home.
I’m asking him to let you know,
It’s ok I am not alone.

My heart is always with you,
but this is where I need to be.
I have my Air Force family, and this year they have me.

Like those who came before us, we take turns standing guard.
Knowing those we love are safe, makes it not so hard.

So don’t be mad at Santa mom,
he obviously tried.
But this year I am standing watch with family at my side.

He ended it with all his love,
my eyes filled up with tears.
That child that I raised, so wise beyond his years.

I have no boots for Christmas, underneath my Christmas tree.
Because the one who’s wearing them, is hard at work protecting me.

-Author unknown-

This is another poem that I came upon as well as note about the author.

T’WAS 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 DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED,
A TRUE MODERN SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO,
OF WHOM I’D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALISED 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 DID NOT 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.”

This poem was written by a Peacekeeping soldier stationed overseas. The
following is his request. I think it is reasonable
PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as
you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to all of the
service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let’s
try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and
think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

Christmas Blessings to all the Military families out there…