Luke 2:14 (ESV)
“Glory to God in
the highest,
and on earth
peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
One of the most familiar carols we hear during the
holidays is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." The story behind
the song, based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is very interesting.
In 1860, Longfellow was at the peak of his success as a
poet. Abraham Lincoln had just been elected President, giving hope to many in
the nation. But things soon turned dark for America and for Longfellow,
personally. The Civil War began the following year, and Longfellow's wife died
of severe burns after her dress caught fire. Longfellow sustained severe burns
on his hands and face from trying to save his wife. He was so badly burned that
he could not even attend her funeral. In his diary for Christmas Day 1861, he
wrote, "How inexpressibly sad are the holidays."
In 1862, the Civil War escalated and the death toll from
the war began to mount. In his diary for that year, Longfellow wrote of
Christmas, "'A merry Christmas,' say the children, but that is no more for
me." In 1863, Longfellow's son, who had run away to join the Union Army,
was severely wounded and returned home in December. There is no entry in
Longfellow's diary for that Christmas.
For Christmas Day that year, Longfellow wanted to pull
out of his despair, so he decided to try to capture the joy of Christmas. He
began:
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men.
As Longfellow came to the sixth stanza, he was stopped by
the thought of the condition of his beloved country. The Battle of Gettysburg
was not long past. Days looked dark, and he probably asked himself the
question, "How can I write about peace on earth, goodwill to men in this
war-torn country, where brother fights against brother and father against
son?" But he kept writing and what did he write?
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
That could be said of our day as well.
But then, catching an eternal perspective and the real
message of Christmas and Christ Himself, he wrote:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Dear Lord, we thank You for the reminder at Christmas time
that You are not dead or are You sleeping. We thank You that You are always
there for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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