It isn’t surprising that I have Christmas carols running through my mind day and night. What’s surprising is the one that has played non-stop for the past two weeks.

The carol?

I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Wanting to know more, I went in search of the story behind the song. What I found made me appreciate the song even more.

• In 1831, Longfellow married Mary Storer Potter.
• November 1835, Mary died during a miscarriage.
• July 1843, He married Frances (Fanny) Appleton. They had six children—five survived.
• April 1861, Confederate soldiers fired on Fort Sumter and the Civil War officially began.
• July 1861, Fanny Longfellow’s dress caught on fire. When Longfellow failed to put out the blaze with a rug, he tried to smother the flames with his own body. The next morning Fanny died. Longfellow’s wounds did not allow him to attend his wife’s funeral. He grew a beard later because of his inability to shave.
• March 1863, his son Charles left home to join the Union army.
• May 1863, Charles is sent back home due to typhoid fever.
• July 1863, Battle of Gettysburg
• August 1863, Charles returns to his unit.
• November 1863, Charles is wounded when a bullet hits his left shoulder.
• December 1863, Longfellow receives word of his son’s
• December 1863(1864?) Longfellow pens the poem, “Christmas ”
• April 1865 the Civil War ends.

When reading the facts of Longfellow’s life, we are far removed from the pain. But when we take into account of losing two wives, a child, and the almost fatal injuries of his first-born, then we can begin to imagine his anguish in the world around him.

The Civil War alone claimed an estimated 640,000 to 700,000 lives.

And amid these horrible conditions Longfellow remained quiet. Some write he didn’t publish anything for two years. But as the bells pealed the news of “peace on earth, goodwill to men” Longfellow could not stay quiet. His ears heard one thing while his eyes saw another. Side by side stood the glaring contradictions.

The war-ravaged countryside.

The Prince of Peace!

Longfellow wrote seven stanzas. Two spoke of the horrors of the war. Later when John Baptiste Calkin wrote the music, he dropped those two verses and rearranged the remaining five for the song we all know and love. Below is the last two stanzas of the original poem.

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, goodwill to men

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, goodwill to men.”

*Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

What an amazing contrast! When our eyes “see” one thing and our hearts “understand” another. Paul wrote, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

It can’t be explained with human reasoning. It must be experienced. And that experience comes with knowing the Prince of Peace! I’m so glad I know him! How about you?

*Most books and sites noted this song (poem) Public Domain.

Want to know more? Visit:

The True Story of Pain and Hope Behind “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”

Poem of the Week

History Net.com

Poets.org

What Saith the Scripture.com

Blessings

Gail