Pathways Press.com

Written by Cindy Guy, from the Village Church.

Music is one of the hallmarks of the Christmas season.  I love hearing and singing all the Christmas carols at home, on the car radio, out shopping for gifts and at church services. My two all-time favorite Christmas carols are Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing. It is said that music is the universal language that touches the soul.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem in 1863 entitled “Christmas Bells” which is such a beautiful work when sung and is better known as “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”  Here are a few of the poem’s stanzas that may reach you with their words of peace and power.  Merry CHRISTmas!

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!

And 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!

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.”