If We All Had Homes Like This

The new book that I am reading is titled They Pulled Together and Won.  It is about WWII and everything that our country did during the war.  The chapters vary from 'Women at Home' which tells about women who went to work in the factories to 'How We Had Fun' about the dances and celebrity bands who traveled to play for the troops.

One chapter is 'Mail Call'.  Several stories told how long it took mail from the US to get overseas.  The men learned how to write letters on a piece of paper, then fold it to make its own envelope.  All mail from soldiers were mailed free, no stamp needed.  Packages sent to soldiers with gifts and food were much appreciated and were shared with each other.  No matter how mundane the news was from home, the men were excited to hear their name called at MAIL CALL.

As I read each of these stories, I was reminded of a song that was on one of my dad's records.  The name of the song was 'Message from Home' which tells of a cowboy out on a range, getting a letter from home.  The other 'tough' cowboys laugh at him, asking if it is a letter from his sweetheart.  As he reads the letter, he tells them 'no, just a letter from home sweet home.'  As you listen to the song, you can just picture the group sitting there, wishing they had gotten letters from their families.

I hope as the Christmas season approaches, each member of our military gets a letter or package from home sweet home and that they know that we are all praying to guard them from harm.

A MESSAGE FROM HOME SWEET HOME

Out on a western range one night I met a reckless crew

One cowboy said to another, 'Jack, there's a letter here for you'

'I suppose it's from a sweetheart, boys,' came a rough voice from out in the crowd

With a laugh and a jeer they gathered round while Jack replied aloud.

'It's only a message from home sweet home, from loved ones down on the farm

'From wife, from mother, from sister and brother, praying to guard you from harm

'The baby is lisping a prayer tonight to bless you wherever you roam

'We'll welcome you, Jack, if you'll only come back, 'tis a message from home, sweet home'

'Then fare ye well, my boys', said he, 'I'm going to that land

Then one by one each cowboy came and took him by the hand

One said, 'If we had homes like you, we'd all be better men

'Oh Jack, before you go, old pal, just read that letter again'.

'It's only a message from home sweet home, from loved ones down on the farm

'From wife, from mother, from sister and brother, praying to guard you from harm

'The baby is lisping a prayer tonight to bless you wherever you roam

'We'll welcome you, Jack, if you'll only come back, 'tis a message from home, sweet home'.