A Cop’s Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas
And all through my beat
The snow came down heavy, turning to sleet
My thoughts were at home with my wife and my kids
While surrounded I was by junkies and skids
Fortunately, air on the radio was slow
The cause? Perhaps an event two thousand years ago
A child was born, he split time in half
He grew up and died for my sins and my gaffes
His promise was peace and joy to men of good will
Yet my work moves me to be cynical still
Then, I recalled a part of the story.
It took the thugs that He saved to show up His glory
The scoundrels, the thieves, the hookers and traitors, the liars, deniers, the lugs and naysayers, the drunks and the lowly, the sick and infirm
He cared for them all, none did He spurn
The question was not “What do you earn?” but are you willing to change and My message, to learn
It was really quite simple; love one another- remember my child that all are your brother
So when I claim to be Christian, do I know what it means?
It suggests I am keeper of crackheads and thieves; I protect others from them and them from themselves and stand on the line between heaven and hell
Love the transgressor and hate the behavior
I swore to defend the poor and the sick, for them all year round I resemble St. Nick
Those that I view with disdain and askance, I must treat them most fairly to give justice a chance
And I wonder this night, am I up to this task?
Am I humble enough for the grace that I ask?
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
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Thomas Cline, MBA, MAP, 50-years in law enforcement is past president of the International Association of Ethics Trainers, LETT board member, a writer/trainer at the Chicago PD, and a consultant. He’s authored Cop Tales! (Never Spit in a Man’s Face…Unless His Mustache is on Fire) and Psych Firefight – L E Job Satisfaction in a hostile environment. For information on training and workshops Email:[email protected]Â