James Clark Jr

A Stranger
He stood outside my doorway
No shoes upon his feet
His clothes all tattered and torn
Not a bite of food to eat
He knocked upon my door
Well do I let him in
Or should I ignore him
And maybe he will leave
Or do I ask him in for a bite to eat
This stranger I know not who he is
Nor what he may have done
The door to my home
I opened wide
And kindly asked the stranger
To come inside
He sat down at my table
Our food he did eat
And as I talked to him
I noticed the scars on his hands and on his feet
The stranger he told me, no home did he have
That he was a carpenter when he was a lad
And how he helped so many people in his lifetime
And talked about the hate thread and all of the crimes
He said that it was
Time for him to go
I asked him what his name was
And he smiled and said to me
You took me in your home not knowing who I am
The food you shared with me
You did not turn me away as so many others had done
You are a true and kind person
You are my son
If you look at my hands and my feet
Scars on them you will see
I took the place for others
Who knows not who I be
So when I am gone from your home my spirit it will stay
For you fed Jesus Christ and did not turn him away                     
                                                                                            Author: James Clark Jr

As the snow fell and the wind blew cold,
Set an American Soldier with just a rifle to hold.
His eyes would scan the mountainsides,
And there were times that he would cry,
For he knew what tomorrow was and where he would be
As his family gathered around the lighted tree.
For tomorrow was Christmas all through the land
As he set in the snow this time and not in the sand.
Several tours of duty, he has had to do.
So, we would be safe, I mean me and you.
Ah, he is a soldier.
His troops do not see him cry,
For when they are around, he holds it all inside.
And as the snow fell from the cold night sky,
A voice this soldier heard.
The voice said, "Don't worry son, everything is good,"
As he went back to his hut
And sat there on his bed
With the thought of Christmas, still wandering through his head.
The thought of little smiling faces
Filled with joy as they unwrapped the gifts that Santa left, before he was deployed.
Then the voice came back to him
And said, "Thank you for your service and all that you have done.
Sleep good tonight, Soldier.
These mountains tonight, you will not trod,
For I am standing guard tonight," said the voice of God.
"I am here to watch over each one of you
And to keep each of you safe
So that next year at Christmas, you're not in these places.
For you will be with your loved ones, with smiles upon your faces.
So, rest tonight my soldiers.
Back home, everyone is fine,
For they are under our watch.
I mean yours and mine."
So as the soldiers drifted off to sleep, not a one of them wept,
For God stood guard on Christmas Eve and peace that night he kept.
So, as you celebrate Christmas,
Keep our troops in mind and say a prayer for all of them,
That they will be just fine.
Remember them as you've gathered around your Christmas tree,
That they would love to be home with their families.