To us a child is born . . . And he
will be called . . . Prince of Peace
—Isaiah 9:6
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s wife had recently died. His soldier son lay wounded. And he was in despair over the massive loss of lives in the Civil War.
Combatting his crushing pain, he wrote the words to I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day on December 25, 1864.
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 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.”
Peace isn’t the absence of trouble,
but the presence of the Prince of Peace.