The following poem appeared on Dec 26, 1863 in The Burlington Weekly Hawkeye of Burlington, Iowa.

Christmas Eve

‘Tis Christmas-eve! the tireless clock is tolling the hours away,
And my household all are sleeping, dreaming of Christmas-day,
My countless varying duties are finish’d, one by one,
Still, there’s always something left — my work is never done;
So I sit down by the cradle, my little one to rock,
And while I sing a lullaby, I knit for him a sock.

I’ve filled some little stockings with candy and with toys,
And hung them by the chimney-place, to please my darling boys.
There sleeping sweetly in their cribs, I’ve tucked the clothes in tight,
I’ve heard them say their evening prayer, and kiss’d them both good-night.
I know, that ere the daylight shall through the curtain peep,
Their Merry Christmas wishes will wake me from my sleep.

I’ve many, many thoughts to-night, and they are sad to me,
Two stockings only hang, this year, where three were wont to be;
The tears are falling thickly as I think of the day
When I laid that little stocking forevermore away;
For the happy one that hung it there not one short year ago
In yonder grave-yard quietly sleepeth ‘neath the snow.

How many little stockings, that on last Christmas-day
Were fill’d by darling little ones, have since been put away!
How many smiling faces, that to our nursery door
Came wishing “Merry Christmas,” will come again no more!
Their waxen hands are folded upon each quiet breast,
And the Shepherd God has gather’d those little lambs to rest.

How many pleasant visions, and, oh what sad ones too,
With each succeeding Christmas-eve come vividly to view!
I see again my childhood’s home, and every loved one’s face;
The stockings hanging, as of yore, around the chimney-place,
From the wee red one of baby’s to grandpa’s sock of gray, –
Each in its own accustom’d place, not even one away.

But the pleasant vision passes, and one of darker shade
Reveals how many changes each Christmas-eve has made;
For those whose stockings hung there so closely side by side,
In happy days of childhood, are scatter’d far and wide!
A few still linger here to see this Christmas-eve pass by,
But many, many more to-night within the churchyard lie.

The baby’s sock is finish’d — ’tis sprinkled o’er with tears;
Where will his tiny footsteps wander in future years?
Perhaps this innocent will live to see as I have done,
The Christmas-eves of childhood steal onward one by one;
But whether a life of sorrow, or whether a life of joy,
I feel that I can trust with God my beloved baby boy.

The clock has struck the hour of twelve! I’ve put the sock away,
And by the baby’s cradle I now kneel down to pray –
To ask that loving Saviour who on Christmas morn was given
To save our souls from sin and death, and fit us all for Heaven,
That He would guide our footsteps, and fill us with his love,
That we may sing together a Christmas hymn above.

 

This post has been contributed by The Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scout motto is “Be Prepared” and that adage can apply to holiday downtime for kids just as easily as outdoor preparedness.  Winter break is just around the corner and parents need to make plans to entertain their kids during the long school recess.

“Keeping children entertained doesn’t necessarily mean watching a television set or playing video games for extended periods of time,” said Jeff Herrmann, executive scout for the Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America (OCBSA). “Even with our busy lives, it’s important to be prepared to plan activities that engage your children during the holidays.”

Here are five tips from the Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America to keep kids active and engaged during the holiday season:

 Discover new interests

Visiting the library is a cost-effective and educational field trip that allows children an opportunity to discover new interests.  Children of all ages enjoy choosing a book of their choice for the holiday break. “Every successful and satisfied person knows that learning does not stop when you graduate from high school or college,” says Rob Neal, OCBSA chairman of the board. “Warren Buffett talks about becoming a ‘Learning Machine’ and most would agree a love of reading is the key to learning.”

 “Outing in Scouting”

Spend more time outdoors while incorporating physical activity in your child’s day.  Going on a bike ride, taking a family nature hike or visiting the zoo are all simple, fun and low-cost outdoor activities.  “One of my best memories as a youth was camping in the rain,” said Mike Bergler, Eagle Scout, Webelos den leader and pack 672 committee chair.   “If you can’t stand the weather, or don’t have the time, just open any Boy Scouts rank book or go online for a wealth of information on indoor and outdoor scouting activities.” said Bergler. “My son often doesn’t realize he is working on a badge or beltloop…he’s just having fun.”

Incorporate academics at home 

Provide opportunities for children to learn while school is not in session by teaching life skills and home economics such as baking, cooking and laundry.  “I like to incorporate academics in the kitchen by baking cookies with my children and teaching math while using measuring tools,” said Marilyn Pilcher, pack 819 committee member.  “It’s a great way to teach children measurements while having fun and encouraging learning along the way.”

 Inspire creativity

Expand your child’s imagination by creating arts and crafts projects together which makes for great, personal holiday gifts. “Creating homemade art projects not only allow your child to tap into their creativity but is also a fun way to spend quality time together,” said Debbie Stroman, troop leader for OCBSA.

Coordinate family game nights

Take time away from the television set to participate in family game night.  Game nights are a cost-effective way to spend quality time with each other while having fun and creating memories. “Game nights have a number of benefits including teaching children the importance of cooperation and teamwork by taking turns and learning to follow directions,” said Heidi Newell, den leader for OCBSA. “It’s also a great way to open the lines of communication in your household while having fun.”

Giving back 

The holidays are a great time to give back to the community.  Volunteering creates a positive learning experience and is a wonderful way to teach children the real meaning of the holidays.  “This season, my boys will be helping set up for our local library tree lighting and working on a Rose Parade float,” said Irene Alonzo, former den leader for OCBSA.  “Community service during the holidays is a tradition in our family that has become second nature to us all.”

About The Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America:

The Orange County Council is one of the largest youth-serving agencies in the county serving almost 30,000 youth with educational programs that instill values, develop social and leadership skills, and promotes physical fitness and environmental awareness. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Something has been on my mind this summer. Something that had become so urgent that I just could not get out of my head. My eldest boy is now 9 and is that much closer to independence. So the questions on my mind are:

 Are we doing enough to prepare our son for life’s challenges? 

Though I try not to think about it too much, my little guy is growing into a man.

A man that will be in a position of leadership in one sense or another in his lifetime.

A leader in his family, his work place, his friends, his church, in an emergency situation…and a million other situations.

 What kind of leader will he be?

That’s when I got an email from The Boy Scouts of Orange County.

It just so happens that the Boy Scouts are concerned about these things as well.

 The Boy Scout Tradition Lives on…and Grows

The Boy Scouts tradition of  building character while having fun and community involvement is still the main purpose of this 100 year old educational organization, however the newly developed Board of Regents will add to this by advising the principles and skills that will help young men to grow into leadership positions later in life.

The Board of Regents includes local Orange County business leaders, some of which were boys scouts themselves when they were young!

 The Proof is in the Puddin’

I had the pleasure of meeting 2 very distinguished Scouts at the Boy Scouts HQ in Santa Ana and I’m not gonna lie to you…this mama was impressed!

Both young men had achieved the highest ranking in the Boy Scouts (Eagle), both were well mannered and behaved like fine young men in a room full of grown-ups and grown-up talk. You know how tough that can be for boys!

One Eagle had earned every single badge there is to earn in CA and on his way to the Marines, while the other Eagle was on his way to West Point.

 Not bad…not bad at all.

Something to Consider

Boys need mentoring and leadership guidance.

While I believe that the best teacher of these things are a boy’s own father or other male family member, The Boy Scouts are a wonderful addition.

Dad/Grandpa/Uncle can get the support they need in teaching their boys leadership.

Our sons get the skills they need and the fun they crave.

And the bond between them grows stronger.

 What’s your plan for preparing your son for leadership?