Read the lyrics to this familiar carol.....forget the tune for a minute, just read the lyrics......
I Heard the Bells
on Christmas Day
by Henry W. Longfellow, 1864
I heard the bells
on Christmas day
on Christmas day
Their old familiar
carols play,
carols play,
And wild and sweet
the words repeat
the words repeat
Of peace on earth,
good will to men.
good will to men.
And thought how,
as the day had come,
as the day had come,
The belfries of all
Christendom
Christendom
Had rolled along
the unbroken song
the unbroken song
Of peace on earth,
good will to men.
good will to men.
Till ringing,
singing on its way
singing on its way
The world revolved
from night to day,
from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
a chant sublime
a chant sublime
Of peace on earth,
good will to men.
good will to men.
And in despair
I bowed my head
I bowed my head
"There is no peace
on earth," I said,
on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong
and mocks the song
and mocks the song
Of peace on earth,
good will to men.
good will to men.
Then pealed the bells
more loud and deep:
more loud and deep:
"God is not dead,
nor doth He sleep;
nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail,
the right prevail
the right prevail
Of peace on earth,
good will to men.
good will to men.
This song is really speaking to me today.....D is getting worse......don't know why, don't know where or if the decline will stop. When he wrote this, Longfellow had just received news that his son had been killed. I can see his whole grief process.....and yet he comes back to, "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail of peace on earth, good will to men." I guess the part that is REALLY shouting to me today is, "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep"....He's NOT dead, He's NOT sleeping, He's in control, and I have to trust that, "the wrong shall fail, the right prevail". In other words, I need to have faith. Longfellow didn't have some crystal ball that told him that everything would be alright, he DID have the Word of God, and he DID trust that the promises are true, and he DID know that God is who He says He is, despite our circumstances. I know that too.....really, I do. I guess I just need to be reminded when I'm wondering.........when I'm weary of this road that seems to stretch on forever, full of obstacles I'm just too tired to climb over anymore. I know that He's with me when I'm just too weary to go on. Seems to be a theme today. Weariness. I wish I had some sage, well spoken blurb to spout, but I don't. I'm walking along with just enough light for the step I'm on, trusting that He knows the way and He has my back. That's pretty much it from here......
Blessings to you and yours.......
Merry Christmas!!
Only Because of Jesus,
anne
