I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

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!

I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along the unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men!

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!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep; "God is not dead; nor does he sleep! The wrong shall fail, The right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men!"

The year was 1863, when Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned the words to this song. It was a time when there seemed to be no peace on earth; a time of war and conflict between citizens of the same country. The greatest threat to individuals and collective citizens of our country was the danger of losing our beloved United States. 

How could an author write words of peace? Were there words that would offset the despair in our country? Everywhere he turned, Longfellow could only see evil winning over good and there was nothing that resembled peace. 

The Christmas season approached and even its message of celebrating the birth of the Savior, was not received by hearts that were devoted to the battlefield.  But the story of Longfellow does not end here. 

He heard the sound of the bells. Church bells continued ringing, and obviously ringing in his head, and it was the sound of those bells that pealed of peace filling our earth again. Men, instead of fighting with swords and guns, were brought the healing message of good will to each other.  Even with our nation deep in hating and dying, the bells gave the reminder that God was still in His heaven.  He was still working to bring his people to Himself. 

The song can accomplish that same purpose today. With so much of our world in strife and hatred; with so many in our own country set on hurt and destruction, the message of the song, the message of the bells, and the message of the Bible, is one of "Peace on earth, good will to men."

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