On earth peace, goodwill toward men.
—Luke 2:14
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s wife had recently died, his soldier son had been severely wounded, and he was grieving over Civil War deaths.
On December 25, 1863, seeking to distance himself from depression, he wrote 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 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.
Inner peace comes from commitment
to the Prince of Peace.