[Woodcarver] Merry Christmas

[Sylda]

Dave, this is beautiful, thank you for sharing.
Sylda

On 12/11/04 8:52 AM, "Dave Tygart" <dtygart at mchsi.com> wrote:

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> our Christmas present to the List
> 
>                         I Have No Stable
>                         by Patrick A. Boyle
> 
> I am not running for office, nor do I sell Avon, cars, insurance, seed
> corn, brushes or balloons.  It is only because I recognize you as a
> fellow traveller in this vale of tears that I share this message with
> you.
> 
> Last night I had a dream.  I dreamed Christ was coming to my stable.
> When I awakened I said, "Lord, I have no stable."
> 
> "Gone is the livery barn with it's vacant stall where countless
> calves, colts and kittens first saw the light of day.  It would have
> been ideal."
> 
> "Gone, too is the lean-to under the cottonwoods where we used to milk
> the cows.  It would have been shelter from the cold."
> 
> "The machine shed is new but it's steel sides and cement floor are not
> too  inviting.  Inside, the diesels have been silent since last
> November, so their breath would not be warm."
> 
> "Within the house, returning sons and daughters fill all the spare
> bedrooms.  Sleeping bags filled with grandkids cover the living room
> floor.  In the basement the tree is surrounded with presents and the
> table is set awaiting the feast, but the Son of God has no where to
> lay His head."
> 
> "But don't give up, Lord.  Could you use my heart?  If I bedded it down
> with the straw of humility, warmed it with the sunshine of brotherly
> love, filled it's manger with thanksgiving for the earth and it's
> goodness, opened it's doors to all of God's creatures, the poor, the
> lonely, the handicapped, and the forgotten?  Would it not then be as
> worthy as that stable in Bethlehem so long ago?"
> 
> 
> "I hope so, Lord, I hope so."
> 
> About the Author
> 
> Patrick Aloysius Boyle, son of David and Susan Boyle, was born in
> Dougherty Iowa in 1918. As a lad he grew up on the family farm near
> Dougherty. He married Theresa in 1944 and moved across the road to farm
> and raise a family of eight children, Jean Ann, Stephen, Terence,
> Martha, Mark, Carol, Sheila and Francis. It wasn't until most of his
> children were gone that he began writing in his "spare time." From his
> new home at Killarney Kastle, he continued to delight many with his
> poems and articles.
> 
> Scrivener's Note: He was also my well loved Father In Law. He passed away
> on February 9, 1995 after a long full life. The sorrow of his passing
> will fade with time, and the joy of his poems and essays and his zest
> for life remain an unending legacy to his children, his friends and a
> memorial to the lively spirit of the man.