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I can remember the year that even the pets proclaimed ‘Peace on Earth’ Valarie Pinaglia I am an old woman now and very forgetful. It seems I am always forgetting something. But there is one thing I will never forget. Even if I live to be 100, I will never forget the Christmas when I was 10 years old. I grew up here. Long before there were all these houses, roads and stores, this was all farmland, and my daddy was a farmer. One time he told me that on Christmas Eve, at midnight, all the farm animals could talk. Well, that was something that I wanted to see! When Christmas Eve came, I was determined to not fall asleep. I lay in bed, all cozy under my blankets, and I tried to stay awake. If I started to fall asleep I would pinch myself real hard. I waited and waited. My cat, Sweetie, was curled up beside me. I knew she was waiting too, because every now and then she would open one eye half way and look at my clock. Yes ma’am, she was checking the clock! At five minutes to midnight she jumped from my bed and ran down the hall. My brother’s dog, Buster, was up too. I could hear his toenails click against the wood floor as he and Sweetie headed for the back door. I grabbed my robe and silently followed. Now, I don’t know how it happened, but the back door just swung open, and the animals went outside. They headed for the barn. I followed and crouched behind the big oak tree. There, in the light of the moon, I saw a most amazing sight! All of the farm animals were out! Horses, cows, chickens and ducks, were all gathered around. The big sow was there with her piglets. Even the field mice had come. And owls. I recognized animals from some of the neighboring farms. I even saw a fox! They all greeted each other most pleasantly, like they were all the best of friends. Then they all stood in a circle, and it got very quiet. They bowed their heads, and the neighbors cat, a beautiful Siamese, led them all in a prayer. First they praised God and thanked Him for His provision over the past year. Then they asked for one thing. Just one thing, nothing more. They asked God for peach. Peach on earth. When they were done praying they all stood silent for a moment. Then slowly, one by one, they headed back to where they belonged. I headed back to where I belonged, too. I hurried to my room well ahead of Sweetie and Buster. I knelt by my bed and prayed. First, I praised God and thanked Him for all He had given me. I thanked Him for my family, and my home, and my cat. Then I prayed for peace. Peace on Earth. Then Sweetie and I climbed in bed and went t Lodinews Home | News | Sports
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