'TWAS THE
NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
This poem
was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan.
'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."
"Volunteers"
Many will be
shocked to find,
When the day
of judgment nears,
That there's
a special place in Heaven
Set aside
for volunteers.
Furnished
with big recliners,
Satin couches
and footstools,
Where there
are no committee chairmen,
No yard sales
or rest area coffee to serve,
No library
duty or bulletin assembly,
There will
be nothing to print and staple,
Not one thing
to fold and mail,
Telephone
lists will be outlawed.
But a finger
snap will bring
Cool drinks
and gourmet dinners
And rare treats
fit for a king.
You ask, "Who'll
serve these privileged few
And work for
all they're worth?"
Why, all those
who reaped the benefits,
And not once
volunteered on Earth!
WE ARE ONLY LEADERS
We are not
experts. We're your next door neighbors.
We're not
perfect; we are just parents like you.
We don't have
anymore spare time or energy than you do,
we all work
full time and juggle our families
and our schedules
and try to keep
it all together
as best we can.
The only difference
between us is that we believe
in what Girl
Scouting has to offer.
So much so,
that we contribute our time,
our miles,
and our talents to help our daughters
and your daughters
grow in Scouting.
We complete
authorization forms, budgets, and registrations,
and fill our
homes with boxes of paperwork that you will never see.
We are required
to take 13-20 hours of training the first year,
as well as
attend Service Unit meetings every month,
so that we
can meet our greatest challenge-
providing
a variety of programs, which meet the needs,
and interests
of very individual girls.
We try to involve
parents who want us to understand
that they
don't have the time to drive on
outings or
help at meetings.
We rejoice
at the generosity of others.
Sometimes
we find ourselves going in too many directions,
We run out
of steam. We have memory lapses.
Communication
lines break down. Time slips by.
But that doesn't
mean we don't care.
So many evenings
we spend on the phone,
seeking advice
and support from other leaders
when disappointments
or problems occur.
"How do I
keep my girl's attention?"
"What are
your ideas for the ceremony?"
"How do you
work with girls in three different grades?"
Our dining
tables are covered with bits of rope, crafts,
permission
slips, and badge information for each and every girl in the troop.
A couple of
them won't show up, and don't think to call and let us know.
Sometimes
we feel unappreciated.
Yet, these
girls can fill us with pride at their determination and accomplishments.
Their smiles
light up a room; and when they say "Thank You" it makes it all worth it.
We help these
girls build relationships.
Some struggle
more than others.
Trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly...
is encouraged
by the Scout Promise and Law.
And sometimes
we too must learn these lessons over
and over again
with the girls. But we are willing to keep learning.
Please be patient
if we appear distracted
or frustrated
or overwhelmed at times.
Forgive us
if we are not the kind of Girl Scout Leader
you would
be if you had the time.
Instead, provide
us with encouragement
or offer your
help. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
We are, after
all, only mentors...role models...leaders.
Volunteers
who have taken an oath to give these girls,
your girls,
the most precious gift we have to offer- the gift of time.
What She Brought Home From Girl Scouts Today
Perhaps when
she came home today
You asked,
"What did you do in Scouts?"
When she replied
"Nothing but play."
You were filled
with doubts!
The weeks went
by, you asked again
She still
had no craft to show.
Then you began
to wonder,
Why didn't
they glue or sew?
For after all,
it's dues each week,
And driving
here and there.
The uniform,
permission slips
And cookie
sale to share!
Ah... but she
brought home much better things
That no glue
or craft could make
If only to
lend a helping hand
When needed
for someone's sake.
It's the caring,
sharing, learning, growing
The Golden
Rule is our thumb
For she'll
be the one with the helping hand
In the future
years to come!
You see, although
we think of Scouting now,
It really
isn't "today"!!
It's the Scouting
for tomorrow
And to help
them explore a new way.
So when she
comes home the next time, please
You can rest
with a brand new start
For the craft
that she's brought home today
Is molded
in her heart