As Christmas is just a few weeks away, I would like to take this opportunity to share the poem “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day'' written by the famous American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, which shows how we feel about God. I would like to think of it as a solemn reminder of the hopes I have. About the fallen world we live in and the challenges we face in this life.
If you look at it, context When you read this poem, you can see that Longfellow himself experienced some hardships in his life. One of them is his wife, Fannie Elizabeth Appleton. She tragically died when her dress caught fire. Despite attempts to put out the fire, Fanny suffered severe burns and died the next day (July 10, 1861).
Longfellow himself was so burned that he was unable to attend his deceased wife's funeral. It is hard to imagine that he felt so much sadness because he was unable to attend the funeral of his beloved wife and the mother of his children, but this incident left him so sad that he feared he would be sent to an asylum. I was worried that it wouldn't happen.
Fannie's death left Longfellow with six children, the eldest of whom, 18-year-old Charles Appleton Longfellow, joined the Union Army to fight in the Civil War. Charlie enlisted without his family's knowledge, but his father later gave permission at the request of Captain W. H. McCartney, commander of Battery A.
However, on November 27, 1863, tragedy struck again in the poet's life when Charles was shot in the left shoulder during the battle of Charlie's Mine Run campaign, leaving him nearly paralyzed. The events of the loss of his wife and the injury of his son clearly disturbed Longfellow. Like all of us who have heard bad news about a loved one. No one is ready to feel the loss of a friend or family member, whether it's death or separation. You can't help but feel deep sadness, the kind of sadness that keeps you up at night, or, like Longfellow, you fear that it will drive you to the brink of insanity.
But on Christmas Day (December 15, 1963), as Christmas bells rang outside Cambridge and he heard voices singing “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Mankind,” Longfellow wrote a poem in the same agony. I wrote (Luke 2:14KJV). the poem will be written later into the This song is still sung today, and his story has also been made into a movie. movie By Sight and Sound Films. why? That's because there is a message contained within it. The following words were written by a man who remembered the hope we have in Christ in the midst of his suffering.
I heard the bells ringing on Christmas Day
Their old and familiar carols play.
And wild and sweet
words are repeated
Peace on earth and goodwill to people!
And when that day comes, how
Bell towers throughout Christendom
rolled away
a song that never ends
Peace on earth and goodwill to people!
Singing until it rings out,
The world rotates from night to day,
The voice, the chime,
sublime chant
Peace on earth and goodwill to people!
And from each black cursed mouth
The sound of cannons rang out in the south,
and with the sound
carols drowned
Peace on earth and goodwill to people!
The rent was like an earthquake.
continental hearthstone,
And I felt sad
household of birth
Peace on earth and goodwill to people!
And in despair I bowed my head.
“There is no peace on earth,” I said.
“Because hatred is strong,
and mock the song
Peace on earth and goodwill towards humanity! ”
Then the bell rang louder and deeper.
“God is not dead, nor is he asleep.
The wrong will fail, the right will win,
If only there was peace on earth, if only people had goodwill. ”
The lyrics, “Peace on earth, goodwill among men,” have their basis in the Bible, which was sung by angels upon hearing the news of the birth of Jesus Christ. My friends, no matter the world situation, no matter the challenges we face, let us all take heart this Christmas season. Like Longfellow, it is easy to become discouraged by the current state of our lives and say, “There is no peace on earth.'' But friends, we know that peace exists. Because in Christ we have peace with God (Romans 5:1). Moreover, we have the peace of God, which surpasses human understanding, and which protects our hearts and minds in Christ.fill. 4:7).
Another noteworthy line in this poem is the line, “God is not dead, nor is he asleep.” During difficult times in life, such as when faced with loss, it is common for people to question whether God exists at all. “Does he care?” “Why does God feel so far away?” and of course, “If God is good, why is there suffering in this world?” Me included , everyone has asked a question like this. My friends, no matter what we are dealing with, no matter what we are feeling, know that God is still with us. Even in the midst of suffering, the Lord still reigns, and righteousness will ultimately prevail.
Watch: I Heard the Bell | Official Trailer | Now available on Digital and DVD
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