A man once lived a wonderful life. He came from a wealthy, respected family, attended the finest schools, and traveled throughout Europe. And during his life, he found that his passion was writing poetry. All was good…for a time.

One day in Spain he sadly learned his sister had died. Six years later his young wife, at only 22-years-old, died from a miscarriage. But years passed and he remarried. They settled in Massachusetts, USA, and raised six children. All was good…for a time.

After eighteen years of marriage, his wife died tragically in a fire. He never fully recovered from the grief. His depression grew worse as civil war came. And when his son was severely wounded in battle, he was devastated. All was good…for no one.

That Christmas, he heard the bells of a nearby church. They sang of peace, but there was no peace. They promised hope, but there was no hope. Yet with each strike of the bells, his heart softened. That evening he wrote a poem about those bells turning despair into hope.

He named the poem Christmas Bells. ¹ Today we know it by another name.

The bells sang out…peace on earth, good-will to men.

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!

And 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!

Till ringing, singing on its way, the world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth, the cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound the carols drowned of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent the hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn the households born 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 doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail, with peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Do you have peace? Listen to the bells!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American poet, suffered deeply. Happiness drowned in grief. Death, pain, and sorrow were everywhere. His country divided in a war that seemed without end. Hatred ruled. Peace on earth, good-will to men…how could that be? Yet he knew.

Jesus does not bring peace on earth. He IS peace on earth. In the midst of earthly hell, we can find, live in, and share His heavenly peace. We can have comfort knowing He will lead us through our valleys of death. The One who is grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love…will never leave our side.

As you look to all your tomorrows, never forget Jesus in today. Listen to the Christmas bells.

 

Ciloa Forever!

 

Chuck

 

 

 

Chuck Graham is Founder and Executive Director of Ciloa, an international ministry devoted to sharing God’s encouragement and teaching others how to “encourage one another as long as it is called Today!” He is also an author, speaker, teacher, and encourager. Chuck and his wife, Beverly, live in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA. You can learn more about Chuck and Ciloa at www.Ciloa.org.

 

Footnotes: Christmas Bells was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863 and published in 1872. The song I heard the bells on Christmas Day is an adaption of the poem, most often omitting any reference to the American Civil War.

Pictures: Banner: The Bell Ringers, photo by Saint Andrew Orthodox Church, Riverside, CA, saintandrew.net/bellringers. (1) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, artist unknown, from “Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Summary”, Britannica.com.