In 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem on Christmas Day after hearing the bells ring out from the neighboring church. One of his sons in the Union forces had just been wounded in battle. His wife Fannie had died in a fire. Filled with grief about his children and worry about the future of the country Longfellow managed to write about hope.
I heard the bells on Christmas Day,
their old familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
the words repeat
of peace on earth, goodwill to men!
Thinking of Longfellow and this poem, I know that when I hear the bells at Christmas I also am inspired. I feel a spark of peace, of happiness, to know that the bells are praising God. Once again, the light has destroyed the darkness. We have a newborn Savior. A sense of newness is in the air, newness and hope.
“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds his name is the Lord—be exultant before him.” Psalm 68:4
Here’s the great, the unexpected ending to Longfellow’s poem:
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.
Submitted by Rev. Mary Donovan
Prayer
Baby Jesus, may we receive the perfect gift of Christ’s peace today and every day.
Amen.