You can count on me

Comfort and Joy, glad tiding we bring, fa la la la la, la la la la

With cheerful lyrics and catchy tunes, traditional Christmas songs easily get stuck in our heads. Normally, I support more “cheerful” thoughts about Christmas, but that’s not the case sometimes. There are so many this year that are separated from their families. Whether they are sick in the hospital, quarantined or mandated to stay home. Perhaps they are at work to make ends meet or they are in healthcare caring for those who need it. Maybe, they don’t have a way to get to their families or maybe they don’t have a family at all. Sometimes, this season isn’t so cheerful for everyone.

“I’ll be Home for Christmas” was written in the perspective of an American Soldier in World War II who was oversees. He is doing his best to fill his family with hopes of coming home and uses words to comfort their hearts. There were many hardships that everyone faced in the 40s. Women who normally worked in their homes or offices, were no expected to work labor intensive jobs. Men were expected to be full of honor and serve their country and to leave their families behind. Issues with racism and a declining economy were topics of discussion when conversations weren’t filled with talks of the war. Christmas “presents” were more practical than the gifts given today.

While life is much easier today, we can understand thoughts of uncertainty and separation this year. We can understand being overwhelmed with the world’s troubles while our “normal lives” no longer exist. But they still celebrated life, joy, and togetherness. They still tried to find happiness in the simpler things in life and believed in the possibilities for a better tomorrow.

My prayers tonight are for those who haven’t had a year of glad tidings. My heart reaches out to those who can’t find comfort this season. My thoughts for those who can only go home for Christmas in their dreams.