1010. He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go;
There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart!

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The wartime Christmas years introduced classic Christmas songs to the culture. The song White Christmas first debuted in 1942 in the Movie Holiday Inn. Sung by Bing Crosby it became an instant hit as its peaceful feeling hit home with both those on the home front and those on the battle front. Another Christmas standard I’ll Be Home for Christmas made its debut in 1943. The words touched the hearts of separated loved ones as the song speaks of yearning to be home at Christmas even “if only in my dreams.”

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My parents were married in 1942, and soon afterwards my dad was drafted into the Army. Following that he was coincidentally ordered to leave for basic training the day I was born, October 17, 1942. Because mom wanted dad to be able to spend a little time with me before he was sent over seas, she and I traveled by train from California to Florida when I was six weeks old. Then, when he was moved to Mississippi for his training as a medic, she and I followed him again and remained there until he departed for North Africa. After Dad shipped out, she and I left Mississippi, and as she was pregnant with my middle sister, she decided we would stay with family in Texas until Kathleen was born in December of 1943. Thinking about it now I believe Dad must have missed two Christmases with us before he was wounded and sent back home in 1945. As a young girl I remember hearing these two songs on the radio every Christmas and eventually came to know how much “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” meant to my parents. Perhaps that’s why I never hear it without tears of remembrance wetting my cheeks.

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“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David…” ~Luke 1:68-69 ✝

35 thoughts on “1010. He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith”

  2. This was probably the best times of Christmas in the US if the truth be told—it was a time the country was untied, looked to God for help and held tightly to all that was dear–family, friends, country and faith—and oh what wonderful music!!!!
    thank you for a look at how things use to be and in many regards should still be—minus a raging World War!!!
    “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light…..” 🙂

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    • Yeppers, it was the age right before innocence died for the most part, and things began to unravel and ultimately go so far downhill. I’m glad you enjoyed my post and as always you are very welcome. I pray we both have a merry little Christmas. I know mine will always be merrier now that I’ve been blessed with your presence in my world. Love and hugs, N 🙂 ❤

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    • I am too, Robin, but sadly it wasn’t for long. He died not long after my 18th birthday. There’s was a wonderful love story and yes, he adored his wife and “baby” girls, and we him. I still can’t talk about him without breaking into tears. I miss him so very much. Love and hugs, N 🙂 ❤

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  5. Natalie, found your solid encouraging advice on our neighbor Pearl’s Blog. I am looking forward to following yours too. Love this post. My Dad was in Germany in WWII. Beautiful picture of your Mom and his girls to come home to. Merry Christmas!

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    • Thank you so much for this lovely comment. I’m so glad you thought my reply to Pearl’s posts was appropriate and truthful. I just started following your blog as well and loved the one post that I’ve already read, so I’m thrilled that our paths have crossed. It’s very interesting that we both had father’s in WWII. The picture of my mom and I and my middle sister would soon change to a picture of three girls after he came home. Sadly my father died of a massive heart attack when I was 19 years old. It broke my heart and over 50 years later, I still can’t talk about without crying. Merry Christmas to you and yours too, Denise. I’m looking forward to reading your posts in the coming year. 🙂 ❤

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      • Thank you for your heartfelt reply. I have been blessed to find “blogging” neighbors, from around the world, to encourage and cheers each other on throughout our days, as we look to the coming of our Lord! A complete surprise to me to discover this “blogging’ joy! :):):)

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