A Christmas Prayer for Animals

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 crawl.
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 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 in a sleigh full of toys and presents and wonderful things.
And the 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 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,
say a prayer for the wind and the water and the wood and those who live there too.

Alfie, the Christmas Tree
by John Denver @ 1979

Merry Christmas

and have a peaceful and loving

New Year filled with

compassion for all life!

The beautiful photo of Erin is courtesy of Monty Sloan
For permission to use or for more information about wolf photographs please write
  Monty Sloan / Wolf Park

Music now playing:  "Silent Night"