Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  

- Romans 12:12

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a celebrated American Poet. A tremendous writer and storyteller, Henry had much fodder for his fire as he lived a tumultuous life.

Henry had 6 children, one of whom died in infancy. His wife died after her dress caught fire late one evening. Henry, waking to see her struggle, tried to put out the flames, first using a rug, then his own body. She died from her injuries the next day, and he was hospitalized. He grew out his beard, for which he is known, to hide most of his facial scars.

Henry's oldest son, Charley, left home in 1863 to join the Northern cause in the Civil War. An apt soldier, he was quickly given an officer's rank. Surviving several skirmishes over the months, on November 27, 1863, Charley was not so lucky. Involved in the Mine Run battle, Charley had been shot through the left shoulder, with the bullet exiting under his right shoulder blade. It had traveled across his back and grazed his spine. Charley avoided being paralyzed by less than an inch.

Henry traveled to Washington to be near Charley after hearing of his son's injury. Upon his arrival, Henry did what he did best, he put his feelings and emotions into words.

On Christmas day, 1863, hearing the bells ringing in Cambridge and the singing of “peace on earth,” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a 57-year-old widowed father of six children, wrote a poem capturing the dissonance in his heart and the sadness of his war-torn country. Written amid tragedy and grief, you cannot help but feel Henry's confident hope as he recounts to himself that God is alive and righteousness shall prevail.

The name of the poem? 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!

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!

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!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
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.”

Hear the song sung here!

Faithfully,
Pastor Chris

Paper Sunday is blessed to collaborate with Chris Harper on this Advent Devotional Series.

Chris Harper is a speaker, writer, and disciple-maker. Chris is President of 252Edu, a consulting firm based in Dallas, Texas. Chris serves schools, churches, and non-profits by helping them "grow in wisdom, favor and stature with God and man.”

When not taking ground for King Jesus, you can find Chris on the basketball court playing a pick-up game. Chris is a sneakerhead, an avid reader, and loves a good cheeseburger. You can follow him @252consulting on Instagram.