Sing a song for me

Dad asked Tammy and I to sing at the Christmas Eve gathering at his and Mom's place. You have to understand the 'gathering'. There are over 50 family members there. We are there for over 6 hours. In this 6 hour gathering, there are no harsh words, no arguments, and no anger. It is a time of peace in the holidays. There is an elaborate meal. There is catching up with what is happening in families. There is meeting the new boyfriends and girlfriends of the grandkids.
Then we all gather in the living room and prepare for the presentation of gifts. Mom tells how thankful she is and she sings "Silent Night" in German, the language in which it was written. Then my sister in law Donna sings "Holy night". In this time, my father has asked us to sing.
Tammy and I have been discussing what song we will sing. We have gone back and forth, searching and joking. Yesterday evening, I told her I would just write one for us to sing. She asked, skeptically, if I would write the music as well. I told her I would steal the tune.
Last night in the bed these words began going through my head and the tune. When I wrote the first verse and chorus, I sang it to Tammy. She said I was a smart ass. I had an original song with an original tune. Here it is.

One more breath of thanks

When all the words have been spoken

When all the songs have been sung

When all the gifts have been opened

That all the relatives brung

There will still be ... One more ... Praise for you

When all the meals have been eaten

And all the children told good night

When the family has bid us farewell

And driven away into the night

There will still be ... One more ... Praise for you

One more praise of glory

One more whisper of grace

I'll save one more Hallelujah

And one more breath of thanks

After I've said thanks for all this family

With thanks for my fine health

Thanks for love and charity

As part of my great wealth

There will still be ... One more ... Praise for you

I'm sure this must be like heaven

Surrounded by this love

Sharing one more Christmas evening

Proclaiming the gift from above

There will still be ... One more ... Praise for you

One more praise of mercy

One more shout of grace

I'll save one more Thank you Jesus

And one more breath of thanks

I will wake up in the morning

With one more .. breath of thanks

Ron S

December 2, 2004