As we enter this Christmas Season, (I know stores and communities have already been in the season for quite some time, and I have to confess, I have a yearly routine where I have my Christmas Cards done in August, my Christmas Letter done in late October, and my cards are ready to mail on my own personal special day each year.)

With the beginning of the season comes sights of decorations throughout neighborhoods, our favorite Christmas specials beginning their re-running on television, the smells of cookies and gingerbread baking wafting in so many kitchens, and sounds of Christmas Carols being played and sung. I often find myself turning to one of my favorites, somewhat not played a lot, Christmas albums that came out after a new Christmas Special first aired in 1979. The special was John Denver and the Muppets.

This particular special combined the genius of Jim Henson and the wonderful musical creativity and talents of John Denver. In this special, there were a couple traditional Christmas Carols, there was one done led by Kermit the Frog, backed up by other Muppet characters, one sung solo by Rowlf the Dog, and some sung collaboratively by John Denver with the likes of Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and many of the other Muppets. There were also a few songs written and sung solo by John Denver. It wasn’t Bing Crosby, or Andy Williams, or Perry Como, or Mel Torme, nor does it completely feature all of the sing-a-long favorite carols, but the lesser-known ones performed are enjoyable and are spoken/sung from the heart.

The John Denver/Muppets album featured the songs: The Twelve Days of Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The Peace Carol, Christmas is Coming, Deck the Halls, When the River Meets the Sea, Little St. Nick, Noel Christmas Eve 1913, The Christmas Wish, Silent Night; Holy Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and A Baby Just Like You (which is a song Denver wrote and performed for his newborn son, Zachary, which I sang to Jonathan when he was a baby, substituting Jonathan’s name for Zachary’s.)

The album also included a recitation and song refrain which was a medley of a poem recited by John Denver titled, Alfie the Christmas Tree, and the song refrain from “It’s in Every One of Us.” My interpretation of this medley is that presents are not just what someone buys and wraps. They are, though, the wonderful gifts from God including the beauty of Mother Nature and what she brings to our everyday lives, and the people and opportunities He has put on our pathways of life. It’s up to all of us as to how we can appreciate those gifts, use them, and forward them by being cognizant of others, by being kind to others, and to find, and open, our hearts and appreciate the gifts of each other and of nature, and give thanks to God for those people, and all the opportunities He’s presented to us, whether we chose to accept them or not, and for everything else He’s put on this earth for us to appreciate and enjoy.

YouTube and enjoy! (John Denver and the Muppets Medley; Alfie and It’s in Everyone of us.”)

Merry Christmas, all!

Alfie, The Christmas Tree

Song by John Denver

“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 bicycles and snow

He liked wolves and eagles and grizzly bears

And critters and creatures that crawled

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 a vision of twinkled 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 a 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, when you say 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.”

Songwriters: John Denver

Alfie, The Christmas Tree lyrics (c) Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc

Song Lyrics

It’s In Everyone Of Us

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(Refrain)

“It’s in everyone of us, to be wise

Find your heart, open up both your eyes,

We can all know everything without ever knowing why,

It’s in all of us, by and by.

(Repeat Refrain)

Songwriters: David Pomeranz

It’s In Everyone Of Us lyrics (c) Warner Chappell Music, Inc.