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| My kids aged 4 & 5 playing "dress-up". I hung a backdrop and started taking pictures. This was taken 11 years ago. |
titled "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day".
This carol is based on a poem "Christmas Bells" by
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, written in 1864.
The Civil War was raging and Longfellow had
recently lost his wife in a tragic fire.
His son had also been severely injured in the war.
He was heartbroken and suffering...
In 1872, John Calkin rearranged some of Longfellow's words.
He removed the references to the war and penned this version
that we have become familiar with today.
"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the 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.'
'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.'
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.'
Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
(I "bolded" the portion of the lyrics for emphasis.)
We don't reside in Eden...the world we live in is NOT
what God intended for us.
But there is good news...
God sent us His Son, so that we may have HOPE!,
and PEACE with Him!
"For
it pleased the Father that in [Jesus] should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the Blood
of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself"
(Colossians 1:19-20).
Casting Crowns singing "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"
Lord, help this nation, and hurting people everywhere,
hear the bells this Christmas....
they're ringing!
Janis, what a beautiful post! The sentiments could not be more true! I wish you and your beautiful family a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThank you Shenita! I thought the history of that carol was so poignant and applicable! I appreciate your feedback!! Merry Christmas to you and your family as well! Enjoy having your kids home!
DeleteLove this post and it is spot on. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Rachel! I loved learning about the history of that carol, and Casting Crowns version is my favorite! I so appreciate your feedback and sweet comment! Merry Christmas.
DeleteLovely post! The photo of your kids is just precious! What a special memory with them. Merry Christmas and Blessings Soul Friend. Jana
ReplyDeleteVery lovely post, Janis. Thank you so much for following my blog -- I'm so appreciative!
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely all things beautiful!
ReplyDelete