The other night Nicolette and I watched a rerun of an old Billy Graham Christmas special. It was a great blast from the past, he and his wife had several famous personalities visit the set and share some of their Christmas traditions. For me the highlight was watching Jonny Cash sing a duet with June Carter-Cash. They sang one of my all-time favorite Christmas carols, I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day. Not only is a great piece of music, but the words of the song seem to transcend the ages. The story behind it is interesting. It was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who as many of you know also wrote the poem The Village Blacksmith in 1840. In the year 1860, Longfellow was at the peak of his success as a poet. Abraham Lincoln had just been elected president, giving hope to many. But things turned dark for America, and for Longfellow personally. The civil war began the next year, and then Longfellow’s wife died in a tragic accident in their home. Longfellow obtained severe burns on his hands and face trying to save his wife. He was so badly burned, 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 toll of war dead began to mount and in his diary for that year Longfellow wrote, “A merry Christmas, say the children, but that is no more for me. . .” In 1863, his 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. Longfellow wanted to pull out of his despair, so he decided to write a poem 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 he came to the third verse, 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 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.” But then, catching an eternal perspective, and the real message of Christmas, and Christ Himself, Longfellow changed his perspective: “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.” In times like this it is good to remember the real meaning of Christmas. Of all the gifts love is the best. Merry Christmas Yall
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 13:25:21 +0000
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