December 3, 2023: Perspective Blog

December 3, 2023

    On Christmas Day 1864, while America was in the throes of the Civil War,

a father sat with pen in hand, mourning the wounding of his son in battle.

      Then Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned these words of hope.

(Read them aloud, and/or find a beautiful song version on YouTube.)

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 th’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.”

Till ringing, singing, on its way,

The world revolved from day to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men.