The Bells Still Ring

 

I’m dreaming of church bells ringing. I haven’t heard any ring in a few years now, but I know they still ring. They’ll be ringing until Jesus comes again.

Recently I watched the movie, "I Heard the Bells" about the true story behind the great hymn, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Henry W. Longfellow.

Longfellow was an American poet whose name is well known. His first wife, Mary Potter, died in 1835 after a miscarriage. His second wife, Frances Appleton, died in 1861 after sustaining burns when her dress caught fire. After her death, Longfellow had difficulty writing poetry for a time and focused on translating works from foreign languages.

On Friday, December 25, 1863, Longfellow—as a 57-year-old widowed father of six children, the oldest of which had been nearly paralyzed as his country fought a war against itself, wrote a poem seeking to capture the dissonance in his own heart and the world he observes around him that Christmas Day.

He heard the Christmas bells ringing in Cambridge and the singing of “peace on earth, good-will to men” and was deeply inspired by the Christmas season. Despite his personal tragedies, Longfellow remained resilient and found solace in his faith. In “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” Longfellow expresses his desire for peace and reconciliation and his belief that one day, all will be made right in the world.

“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!

“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.

“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.”

“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!”

Maybe I’ll hear bells ringing this Christmas season. Our God is not dead. He’s alive. He cares. He will ring those bells until Jesus comes again. For those who know Him He gives peace in our hearts. Listen for the bells and thank God for a reason to believe.

By His Grace . . .