Entertainer Bing Crosby spent 25 weeks touring with the USO, entertaining servicemen in Britain, Belgium, and France during WWII.
His rendition of the popular song, "White Christmas" was constantly requested by troops during Bing's USO appearances overseas, which gave the singer mixed feelings. "I hesitated doing it because it caused such a nostalgic yearning among the men, that it made them sad," Crosby said in an interview. "Heaven knows, I didn't come that far to make them sad. For this reason, several times I tried to cut it out of the show, but these guys just hollered for it." Clearly, they identified with the wistful lyrics about holidays at home. (The above is from a piece whose author I do not know).
Yes, there is something about Christmas and home. Perhaps this is why so often when Christians gather to worship the Christ, we sing about the eternal home he has provided.
Just to name a few of the titles….. Mansion Over the Hilltop, Glory Land Way, To Canaan’s Land, On Zion’s Glorious Summit, When We All Get to Heaven, Beulah Land, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere, There Is a Habitation, No Tears in Heaven, Lead Me Gently Home Father, This World is Not My Home, Higher Ground, Marching to Zion, Land of Fadeless Day, In the Morning of Joy, and many more.
“White Christmas” was popular for good reason. It speaks to the longing within each of us to truly be home.