Capturing Peace During Sorrow
Song - "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"
By Lindsay Terry

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased” (Luke 2:14).

Never a poet put pen to paper with more skill in verse than Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. His ability to portray life in one of the most beautiful fashions ever devised—poetry—is illustrated in his masterful, The Song of Hiawatha.

Longfellow was a legend in his own lifetime. He is known in many circles as “The Children’s Poet.” In his last years, in many schools, his birthday was a holiday and school children were excused from classes.

Tragedy struck in his home on July 9, 1861. His wife, Fanny, was near an open window sealing locks of her daughter’s hair in a packet, using hot sealing wax. It was never discovered whether a spark from a match or the sealing wax was the cause, but suddenly her dress caught fire and she was engulfed in flames. Longfellow, sleeping in the next room, was awakened by her screams and dashed in and was severely burned on this face and hands as he tried desperately to extinguish the flames and save his wife. He was burned so badly he could not attend her funeral.

 He seemed to lock the anguish within his soul. Because he continued to work at his craft, only his family knew of his personal suffering. They could see it in his eyes and observe his long periods of silence. His white beard, so identified with him, was one of the results of the tragedy—the burn scars on his face made shaving almost impossible.

Even the literary giant Longfellow needed the peace that only God can give to His children. With the loss of his wife only two and one half years earlier, and the tragedy abounding in his own country, on Christmas day, in 1863, he sat down and tried desperately to reflect on the joys of the season. Although not a hymn writer, the poem that he wrote on that day was later set to music by Englishman John Calkin. The result is one of our most popular Christmas carols.

“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 stanza he was stopped by the thought of the condition of his beloved country. The Civil War was in full swing. The battle of Gettysburg was not more than six months past. Days looked dark, and he probably asked himself the question, “How can the last phrase of those stanzas to be true 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, good will to men!’”

It seems as if he could have been writing for the present day, also. Then, as every Christian should do, he turned his thoughts to the one who solves all problems:

“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.’”

Peace and good will shall one day come when the Prince of Peace reigns. Peace in this life, for a Christian, is from within, not in an exemption from suffering. Remember that this season as we celebrate His coming!

Lindsay Terry has been a song historian for more than 40 years, and has been published in a number of
publications, including Pulpit Helps. He has also written some 34 books and church training manuals.

Pulpit Helps Magazine, a ministry of AMG International, was a monthly publication which ran from 1975-2009. Founded by Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, Pulpit Helps was dedicated to the mission of equipping pastors, Bible teachers, and students of the Word for preaching, teaching, and living God's Truth. Each month, Pulpit Helps provided sermon starters, bulletin inserts, illustrations and quality articles on preaching, counseling, Christian living, and more. The ministry goals of Pulpit Helps continue today in the form of Disciple Magazine online.