Twas the night before Christmas
When all through the land
Most people were working…
Wasn’t it grand!
Yet all the stockings were hung
From the mantel with greed
So we could get what we wanted – Not what we need.

And I in Miami and “Mom” in St. Paul –
Our recent divorce having divided it all –
Had both settled down
For a good winter’s sleep
But I ended up dreaming
Of promises I didn’t keep;
So I got up, read the paper –
Did so till nearly morn –
And learned a baby’s not human
Until it is born?
That pornography’s great –
It’s free speech, after all?
And we all must accept both –
It’s the LAW, after all…?
Seems the kind of person you are
Doesn’t matter you see
Because if I expected you to be good
You’d have the right to expect good from me.

But then out in the yard
I heard such a beef
I jumped up, got my gun
To scare off the thief;
I unbolted the door,
Turned off the alarm
And carefully snuck out
To avoid any harm.

The haze from pollution
Blocked most of the moon’s light
But I soon had the subject dead in my sights;
But before I could fire
It occurred to me
The fellow in red was just making
A delivery;
It wasn’t a truck of UPS
And though his coat was red
It wasn’t a van either
Of Federal Express;

It was just a small home
Pulled by things that used to rein dear
That tugged at my memory and heart
As their names called out I did hear –
“On Honor, on Peace, on Hope, Responsibility
On Faith, Love, and Life, and onward Family.”

As dreams before waking
Fade when we open our eyes
The fellow in red
Slowly dissolved from disguise;
As he removed his hood
His face I finally did see
And instead of seeing him
I was seeing me…

Not the me I was now –
No, not tattered and worn –
But unspoiled, happy, secure
Like the day I was born.

There was peace in my eyes
Shining like the Christmas star
And my Dad’s medal of honor I held close –
He had died in our war;
There was hope for my future
As far as I could see
And I welcomed the challenge and rewards
Of responsibility;
My faith was in God
And not this world’s lies;
And not just my life was special
But all’s –
From their conception
Till their demise;

And I loved my country –
We were all Americans, you see –
And not just a collection
Of every nationality;

And my family was with me
Where else would they be?
For all things that rein dear
Are for them
Don’t you see…

I awoke with a start;
All figures had gone away
But the gifts left for us
Still last till today;

I got back with my wife –
She had the same vision that night;
And our family’s together –
Everything is all right…
I don’t travel as much –
40 hour’s enough;
I found that time is more special
Than any new stuff;

We go to church every Sunday
When we’re not there we still pray
And we remember and honor the past –
It’s still important today;
And each day we value
What makes Christmas so clear –
It’s not Santa Claus –
It’s the things that rein dear.