Merry Christmas to all,
Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas from the Butler family. While this site is about the great game of baseball, I want to take the time to say that there is a “Reason for the Season” and I hope that everyone takes the time to recognize the blessings in each of our lives. Christmas for me and my family have always centered on our religious beliefs more than they have about receiving gifts. As many know from past posts, as a child, I grew up in extreme poverty. I recall the first Christmas we moved out of the 10x20 shack 7 of us lived in (5 of us and my Uncle and Aunt) (Once it was 6 of us but I lost one of my sisters.) and moved to a “rocky top” piece of land that no one wanted. Santa Claus visited our family that year and while my Mom and Dad have never figured out who that kind soul was, he brought me my first store bought toy. I remember it like it were today. Tonight, I’ll see my Mom and Dad and we will have chili for our meal. Now it is a tradition but once was based on the fact that my dad had saved enough money to buy the makings for the chili. We will talk about those old times and again wonder how we made it. Dad will say something to the effect that he has a son that went and graduated from college. I will look at both of them and make my yearly wish that they will make it another year. In doing so, I will be reminded again of why I believe!
A song that has become one of my favorites:
Old man Wrigley lived in that white house
Down the street where i grew up
Momma used to send me over with things
We struck a freindship up
I spent a few long summers out on his old porch swing
Says he was in the war when in the navy
Lost his wife, lost his baby
Broke down and asked him one time
How ya keep from going crazy
He said I'll see my wife and son in just a little while
I asked him what he meant
He looked at me and smiled, said
(Chorus)
I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what i can see
Oh i believe
Few years later i was off at college
Talkin' to mom on the phone one night
Getting all caught up on the gossip
The ins and outs of the small town life
She said oh by the way son, old man Wrigley's died.
Later on that night, i laid there thinkin' back
Thought 'bout a couple long-lost summers
I didn't know whether to cry or laugh
If there was ever anybody desevred a ticket to the other side
It'd be that sweet old man who looked me in the eye, said
(Chorus)
I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what i can see
I can't quote the book
The chapter or the verse
You can't tell me it all ends
In a slow ride in a hearse
You know I'm more and more convinced
The longer that i live
Yeah, this can't be
No, this can't be
No, this can't be all there is
(Chorus)
When I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to this than just what i can see
I believe
Oh, I
I believe
I believe
I believe
I believe
I believe
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