It’s Christmas morning 1864. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is walking home from church with the sound of the church bells loud in his ears. The constant ringing reminds him of the phrase “Peace on earth, good will to men.” 

Over and over again, the bells chant the phrase “Peace on earth, good will to men.” Longfellow shakes his head and looks down. The times are difficult for him. Although he is an abolitionist, he is also a pacifist and the War Between the States weighs heavily on his mind. The end may be near, but not complete at this time. 

To exacerbate his disquiet, his oldest son, Charley, enlisted in the Army of the Potomac against Henry’s will. He received a serious injury the previous year at the battle of New Hope Church in Virginia. Longfellow arranged for medical care for his son, to assure that he received the proper treatment. However, he still worried about his son’s future. 

As serious as Charley’s injury was, the tragic death of Longfellow’s beloved wife Fanny was constantly on his mind. Dogged by guilt that he wasn’t able to save her from the furious flames that fed on her light summer dress, Henry carried cruel facial and bodily scars as a daily reminder of his inability to extinguish the fire. 

His poet’s heart was heavy on this Christmas morn as he was reminded that there was no peace on his part of the earth. With this attitude, he wrote “Christmas Bells.” The poem begins with joy and celebration travels on to the observation that there is no peace on earth, expresses anger over the war and its violence and concludes with a resounding declaration that God will prevail and there will be peace on earth, good will to men. 

The words were put to music in 1872 by John Baptiste Calkin. “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Morn” has become one of the standards in the Christmas Carol playlist. Of note is the fact that the two stanzas that address the war are omitted from the musical lyrics.  

When I read this poem or sing this carol, I am impressed and inspired by Longfellow’s enduring faith in the power of God, even in the face of horrible tragedy and sorrow. While his life experiences influenced his writings and his emotions, he always returned to the Lord, the God who loved him unconditionally. The very same One who loves you unconditionally.  

Enjoy this beautiful modern version of the hymn “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Morn” performed by the Vancouver Youth Choir. I picked this performance because it made me cry and happy at the same time. Here are children of all ages, shapes and ethnicities singing a beautiful hymn of peace on earth. It gives me hope for the future. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours. May the peace of Christ be with you always. 

Terri