Merry Christmas!!

Last year, a movie came out that told the story of Henry W. Longfellow and how he happened to pen the poem "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day".

Longfellow was a well-known writer of poetry. But in the early 1860s, he first lost his wife when her full-skirted dress caught fire and she was burned to death. His son went off to fight in the Civil War and was wounded.

Longfellow was so despondent, he could no longer write until he heard the bells ringing on Christmas night. Thus the words to the song, later set to music by J. Baptiste Calkin:

1. I heard the bells on Christmas day
   Their old familiar carols play;
   In music sweet the tones repeat,
   “There’s peace on earth, good will to men.”
2. 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.
3. 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.”
4. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
   “God is not dead, nor does He sleep,
   For Christ is here; His Spirit near
   Brings peace on earth, good will to men.”
5. When men repent and turn from sin
   The Prince of Peace then enters in,
   And grace imparts within their hearts
   His peace on earth, good will to men.
6. O souls amid earth’s busy strife,
   The Word of God is light and life;
   Oh, hear His voice, make Him your choice,
   Hail peace on earth, good will to men.
7. Then happy, singing on your way,
   Your world will change from night to day;
   Your heart will feel the message real,
   Of peace on earth, good will to men.