G-d bless us. Everyone.

Every year at Christmastime, my family listens to the best Christmas album out there: "John Denver and the Muppets - A Christmas Together" - a tradition that began with the vinyl record, and progressed to a CD. Since Christmas is not as big of a holiday in Chile as it is in the US, I was missing the holiday traditions an extra amount. To remedy the situation, I turned to the Muppets. :)

One of my dad's favorite songs is a medley of the story of Alfie, the Christmas tree, and The Peace Carol (It's in Every One of Us).

If you'd like, the video is above. If you prefer lyrics to read, see below.



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 ever looked down
On a vision of twinkled 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 in a sleigh
Full of toys and presents and wonderful things
And a story of Christmas day

Oh, Alfie believed in Christmas alright
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 special story, 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 G-d
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 when you're at Christmas pr-y-rs this year
Alfie asked me if I'd ask you
Say a pr-y-r for the wind and the water and the wood
And those who live there, too
.....
It's in every one of us
To be wise
Find your hearts
Open up both your eyes

We can all know everything
Without ever knowing why
It's in every one of us
By and by
By and by



Being around unfamiliar things is difficult at a familiar time of year, but just like Alfie, it makes me pause to wonder who around me has never heard the world's most beautiful story. 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 pr-y-rs this year, I'm asking you. Say a pr-y-r for Chile and the rest of the world, and those who live there, too. Because it's simply not enough to ignore the problem. It's our job to utilize the gifts of intellect and compassion. Be wise. Find our hearts. Open up all of our eyes. We have a beautiful story to share - one that all the world isn't as privileged to know by heart (and I don't mean the story of Santa). Give a special gift this Christmas season, yeah?

Merry Christmas, dear friends. Y Feliz Navidad tambien.