a thought | day 4

Did you ever hear the story
of the Christmas Tree

who just didn't want to change the show?

He liked living in the woods
and playing with squirrels –
he liked icicles and snow.

He liked wolves and eagles and grizzly bears

and critters and creatures that crawled.

Why bugs were some of his very best friends –
spiders and ants and all.

Now that's not to say that
he never looked down on
the vision of twinkling lights,

or on mirrored bubbles and peppermint canes
and a thousand other delights.

And he often had dreams of tiny reindeer

and a jolly old man and a sleigh –
full of toys and presents and wonderful things –
and the story of Christmas Day.

Oh, Alfie believed in Christmas all right,
he was full of Christmas cheer.

All of each and every day –
and all throughout the year.

To him it was more than a special time –
much more than a special day.

It was more than a beautiful story.
It was a special kind of way.

You see, some folks have never heard a jingle bell ring,

and they've never heard of Santa Claus.

They've never heard the story
of the Son of God.
And that made Alfie pause.

Did that mean that
they'd never know of peace on earth

or the brotherhood of man?

Or know how to love,
or know how to give?
If they can't, no one can.

You see, life is a very special kind of thing,
not just for a chosen few.

But for each and every living, breathing thing.
Not just me and you.

So in your Christmas prayers this year,
Alfie asked me if I'd ask you –
to say a prayer for the wind, and the water, and the wood ...

and those who live there, too.

Lyrics: Alfie, The Christmas Tree; John Denver; John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together