“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”

…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.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote this poem “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” on Christmas Day in the middle of the Civil War. This was not a time of great peace for him personally or in the nation. He was mourning the death of his wife due to an accident involving fire. Longfellow had tried to save her but was unable to and he himself suffered severe burns.

Then his son ran away to join the fighting in the Civil War and had been badly injured. Longfellow retrieved his son from the hospital and was trying to nurse his son back to health. The story goes that he heard the bells toll on Christmas Day of 1863, and a sense of peace and hope swept through him. He wrote the poem in response and shared his message of peace and hope even amidst the bloody fighting and personal hardships. He became a vessel of peace.

We need those willing to share their stories of finding peace in the midst of chaos. We need peacemakers even today.

Today’s world is marked by division, conflict and strife. We can choose to follow the “hate” which “is strong” or fall prey to the despair inside us. Or we can choose to instead listen to the hope of the bells and declare “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; / The Wrong shall fail, / The Right prevail, / With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

We can choose to pursue peace and hope. Or not. It is our choice. With God’s help, we have the power to spread the message of love, joy, and harmony by embodying the Fruit of the Spirit. We can become a vessel of peace as well.

Love is the foundation of peacemaking. One of my favorite peacemaker stories can be found in the book of Genesis. Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob. The other eleven older brothers grew jealous of the favoritism and vowed harm against him. When the opportunity came, the brothers planned to kill Joseph, but Reuben intervened. Instead, the brothers ended up selling Joseph as a slave.

After some pitfalls, Joseph rose to become the Pharaoh of Egypt’s right-hand man. He had a chance at revenge against his brothers when they visited Egypt. He tested them and saw that they had changed and regretted their evil actions toward him. He chose to let his hatred toward them go and instead chose love. Love encouraged his forgiveness, acceptance, and empathy, paving the way for reconciliation and unity with his family. Joseph serves as a gentle reminder of what peace through love can achieve.

Being a peacemaker calls each of us to actively pursue reconciliation, understanding, and empathy. As followers of the Spirit, we are called to be ambassadors of peace, striving to mend broken relationships and bridge the gaps between individuals and communities.

 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:9 — The New International Version (NIV)

More Information:

See also Love in Words and Deeds: A Deeper Look at the Fruit of the Spirit – In Thought, Word & Deed (katierea.com)

The Fruit of Spirit Within Us – In Thought, Word & Deed (katierea.com)

Practicing the Fruits of the Spirit: A Book Reflection – In Thought, Word & Deed (katierea.com)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day – Hope Surfaces from Despair – New England Historical Society

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT PEACEMAKERS (kingjamesbibleonline.org)

Blessed Are the Peacemakers – Meaning of Matthew 5:9 Explained (crosswalk.com)

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