Today is Wednesday, December 7th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4803

This past weekend several friends and I attended the movie "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", a story reflecting the life and struggle of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. As an already established writer of poems. he wrote the words to the song.

The movie depicted his struggles: losing a wife and unborn child in his early life; his second wife dying in a fire at his home; and a son nearly losing his life in the civil war. It was then that Longfellow couldn't, or didn't, write for a lengthy period of time. 

But then by inspiration, he quickly penned the words to

 
"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day":

"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.'

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.

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 does He sleep,
For Christ is here; His Spirit near
Brings peace on earth, good will to men.'

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.

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.

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."

***

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