A Carol From Flanders -- Christmas Poem

 

A Carol from Flanders
by Frederick J. Niven

In Flanders on the Christmas morn
The trenched foemen lay,
The German and the Briton born,
And it was Christmas Day.

The red sun rose on fields accurst,
The gray fog fled away;
But neither cared to fire the first,
For it was Christmas Day!

They called from each to each across
The hideous disarray,
For terrible has been their loss:
"Oh, this is Christmas Day!"

Their rifles all they set aside,
One impulse to obey;
'Twas just the men on either side,
Just men--and Christmas Day.

They dug the graves for all their dead
And over them did pray:
And Englishmen and Germans said:
"How strange a Christmas Day!"

Between the trenches then they met,
Shook hands, and e'en did play
At games on which their hearts were set
On happy Christmas Day.

Not all the emperors and kings,
Financiers and they
Who rule us could prevent these things --
For it was Christmas Day.

Oh ye who read this truthful rime
From Flanders, kneel and say:
God speed the time when every day
Shall be as Christmas Day.

Frederick John Niven (March 31, 1878 - January 30, 1944) was a Canadian novelist of Scottish heritage. A prolific author, he produced over thirty works of fiction, an autobiography, poetry, essays, and pieces of journalism.

The Christmas True reported by The Daily Mirror (London, U.K.) on Friday, January 8, 1915 featuring a
photograph of British and German soldiers standing together between the trenches on the
Western Front near Ypres, Belgium.

On Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 1914, along the four-hundred-mile Western Front of World War I (1914-1918), a famous ceasefire took place, as enemy soldiers -- largely British and Germans -- spontaneously emerged from their trenches and laid their weapons aside to celebrate the birth of Christ together in the No-Man's-Land between the trenches.

They sang carols, exchanged gifts (jams and candies, cigarettes, alcohol, and newspapers), kicked around soccer balls, and shared photos of loved ones. They also buried each other’s dead and prayed together communally over the bodies, led by chaplains reciting the Lord's Prayer in both English and German. Some even exchanged home addresses and promised to visit after the war.

Its estimated that as many as 100,000 British and German men along the western front took part in what history refers to as the Christmas Truce of 1914 (der Weihnachtsfrieden in German). In most places it lasted from Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24th) through the end of Boxing Day (Saturday, December 26).

The Christmas Truce of 1914 remains one of the most remarkable stories of both war and the brotherhood of mankind. 

Never Forget!

Merry Christmas Y'all!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." ~Isaiah 9:6

"By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."  ~Romans 5:18-19 

From my little corner of Dixie to wherever y'all are, have a very Merry Christmas this year!

Monday Meme: Its That Time Of Year Again....

For Unto You A Child Is Born -- Merry Christmas Y'all

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth. 

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her and said hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art though among women. 

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou has found favour with God.  

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name, Jesus. 

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man. 

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 

And behold thy cousin Elisabeth she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible. 

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into the city of Judah. 

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. 

And she spake out with a loud voice and said blessed art though among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 

And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me.
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ear, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 

And blessed is she that believed. For there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord. 

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my saviour. 

For he that is might hath done to me great things, and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 

He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of  low degree. 

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away....

And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 

And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (Because he was of the house and lineage of David.)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she would be delivered. 

And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around about them: and they were sore afraid.    

And the angel said unto them, fear not; for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign upon you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them unto heaven the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 

And when they had seen it they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 

                                                                                                             ~ Luke 1:26-53; Luke 2: 1-19 KJV

To all of my readers across the world -- especially my brothers and sisters in Christ -- I would like to wish each and every one of y'all a very Merry Christmas this holiday season.  

Gateway Conference Center Jingle Bell Bazaar 11-16-2019

Greetings and Salutations, Y'all! 

After what felt like a week of cold, rainy weather and the first real cold front of the coming winter season, your favorite blogger was able to leave the house on Saturday, November 16th and travel down SC 9 to the neighboring town of Richburg, South Carolina to visit the Jingle Bell Bazaar at the outstanding Gateway Conference Center.  

The Jingle Bell Bazaar features a number of local vendors and artisans displaying and selling off some really beautiful holiday handicrafts. The event also includes a bake sale and raffling off of merchandise, with all money going to local charitable causes. 

Here are some photo I took from the event and the remarkable items on display. Enjoy.

My thanks to all of these artists and local craftspeople for the time and effort they put into this outstanding display of holiday spirit. I hope all of y'all enjoyed my photos. Let me know what y'all think in the comments below. 

Thank you and y'all have a wonderful Dixie Day!