Keeping the promise “I’ll be home for Christmas” isn’t always easy, especially when everything seems to go wrong. That’s what happened for a friend of mine.
Even though he left early to get to the airport in plenty of time, things started to play out much differently than he had anticipated. In the process of parking his vehicle, he popped his trunk, slipped out of his vehicle while it was running and removed his luggage.
When he closed his trunk, he realized he was locked out of his car.
After phoning a tow truck, he waited, and waited and waited. When the tow truck driver arrived, he reminded him to hurry because he had a flight to catch.
Perhaps he should have reminded the fellow to be careful. Although he successfully unlocked the vehicle, he also managed to crack the windshield.
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But the anxious traveller didn’t have time to deal with the tow truck driver about his windshield. He rushed off to the airport, where he was told he could still make his flight but they couldn’t guarantee his luggage would make it.
The lineup for the security check was lengthy, so the hurried traveller quickly related to the people in front of him that he would greatly appreciate it if they would allow him to go ahead of them. Some of the people did, while others merely shrugged and ignored his request.
At the end of the day, he was able to keep his promise to be home for Christmas, and his luggage made it home for Christmas, too.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas was a hit song in 1943. It was written to inspire optimism for the future during wartime.
Family members at home were bundling up candy, cookies and socks, and sending them overseas before Oct. 15 so they would hopefully arrive in time for Christmas. The navy restricted packages to under five pounds, but the army and navy post office had mountains of mail to deliver great distances. Many service men, especially sailors, received their Christmas packages several months after the holiday.
Army cooks did their best to provide special holiday meals for the troops. Nurses saved tins and foil wrappers to make festive decorations. Army bases arranged Santa visits, concerts or parties for the men.
The soldiers would contribute to the holiday as well. In 1941, Canadian soldiers held a Christmas party for London children who had either been bombed out of their homes or their fathers were prisoners of war.
The service men and women banded together during those unpredictable and dangerous times, especially at Christmas. “Peace on earth and good will to men” were not simply lyrics, but a prayer fervently voiced in unison. Everyone who could attended a Christmas service; the ongoing life and death situations compelled the troops to celebrate the real reason for the season – the birth of Jesus Christ.
During those war years, everyone set aside their significant troubles to celebrate Christ’s birth. Perilous times tend to serve as an effective reminder of the real reason for the season. And gratitude for our families and friends, and all that we have, serve as a great reminder also.
I wish you all, not just a Merry Christmas, but one filled with love and appreciation for what we have, for the people around us, and the hope to be found in Jesus Christ.
Joan Janzen is a freelance opinion columnist.
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