I heard the bells on Christmas Day

 

I HEARD the bells on Christmas Day - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

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!

 

Of peace on earth, good-will to men! - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

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, - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

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 - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

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 - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

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; - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

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 - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

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.”

–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The Complete Poetical Works of Longfellow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1893.

 

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Longfellow penned these words on Christmas Day 1863, in the midst of the American Civil War.

In some ways, this year, there has been a civil war of words. The world may seem to be on the brink.  Many are going through tough times.  And so this poem, turned into a somewhat melancholy Christmas carol, reminds us of something so very important…

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:11-14

God became flesh so that you and I could have… His peace.

Wishing you His PEACE… today and every day.

Merry Christmas!

 

Peace on Earth - JoyDay! - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

It’s JoyDay!

 

And time to get our joy meters soaring!

Please join me in thinking back over the past week and counting seven things for which you are thankful.  This simple exercise of counting and giving thanks together in this space is something we do each week to reset our compasses and put our eyes back on the Lord.

I’ll start…

Thank you, God for…

  1. Your GIFT of PEACE.
  2. the incredible ways you have chosen to bless us this week. What a week!
  3. my husband.
  4. Christmas… and the carols that help us reflect and rejoice in our spirits over Your extraordinary gift.
  5. the extra job you have provided Tim.
  6. a simple traditional Christmas dinner of Swedish meatballs.
  7. Your amazing love.  May we not keep this gift of love to ourselves but generously share it with others.

Now…it’s YOUR turn!

List your ‘seven’ in the ‘share your extraordinary thoughts’ section below.  You’ll be glad you did.

 

More inspiration on PEACE…

Struggling with peace AnExtraordinaryDay.netSeven Reflections on Peace

You, Lord, give true peace... AnExtraordinaryDay.netChaos? Stress? Anxiety? Or True Peace?

A few more thoughts…

This season, leading up to Christmas I have shared a few Christmas decorating posts… simple Advent candles, how to make a gold oak leaf wreath, how to make an evergreen wreath, and how to make a gold oak leaf Christmas tree.  Through those posts you have some idea about what I’ve done to furnish and decorate this tiny “in between” apartment with thrifted, hand me down, or garage sale finds on our next to nothing budget.  Today I filled in the “gaps” with these photos which include a borrowed tree from one friend and ornaments another dear, dear friend gifted me with when she downsized her huge Christmas tree a few years ago. There’s a sweet handmade reindeer another friend surprised me with. And the winter plate I spied at a garage sale, as well as the red Bug. The vase came with some Fourth of July flowers which I gave a quick coat of spray paint. And of course, I collected winterberries and rosehips and greens to fill the vases.  Having pretty Christmas decorations does not require a large expenditure of money.  It takes looking at what you have and figuring out how to use it creatively.  Something I absolutely love to do.

And ultimately… having decorations… or not… is not what makes our Christmas.  It’s taking take to reflect and receive the Greatest Gift ever given. We all need to receive the Gift of Jesus.  Once we have… we don’t need to do it over and over again.  What we need to do is to allow Jesus to permeate our lives more fully, more richly, more deeply.   To allow Him to refill our joy cups.  To in turn be Jesus to our family, or neighbors, and the world.  And to be peace, love, and light that are real and tangible to those we touch because we have not just knelt at the manager, but because we have received the gift, opened it up, and are infusing our lives with it.

My friend… I am so honored that you took the time to stay with me this far.  I do hope that your Christmas is one where you have experienced the peace and love Christ came to bring.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Diane


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Comments

  1. Debbi Saunders says

    Thank You God ……
    1. For your presence in this Wonderful Season of Advent and Christmas….Hope,Peace, Joy and Love!
    2. For my Dear Son, Family and Friends… LOVE
    3. For Miracle of Life for a very Dear Friend!
    4. For this past week of Baking, decorating, relaxing, a little shopping and Fellowshipping and helping my 2 neighbors… serving the Lord…
    5. For this Christmas Meal…
    6. For unexpected gifts of provision this week…
    7. For an absolutely delightful Christmas Day !!!!!

    • Debbi, I am so happy for you and for all the ways God is lavishing His love on you. You joy is contagious. Thank you for counting your seven, too. May your new week be filled with laughter, relaxation, and the JOY of the Lord. Merry Christmas!

  2. Gwen says

    When my family moved from a farm to so called sunny West Coast, we missed our traditions and so quickly our Grandma died and it was just us with our parents. We made up a program. I spent days memorizing the words to this–and the words touched my ten year old heart. When I recited it to my 17 year old sister,
    she said nonchalantly ,”You know that’s a song right?” No. I did not!!! Rats! It was a lot to memorize !!! So I just practiced to myself anyway and got excited for the ending too!!!
    “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.”
    I’ve focused much on JOY and God’s peace in this strange time of life. When we are one sick and the other in great pain healing again from trauma to his body. Grouchoness. Words said that aren’t remembered yet linger in my heart…sleepless restless nights. Photos of running, snow play, families together, and we’ve been isolated. Where’s the JOY in all this???
    1. I bring you good tidings of great JOY which shall be to all people. That’s for me. Joy in my heart for Jesus. For bananas and dinners and sweet treats and I stand wondering what Curt shall eat and the neighbor brings soup!!! Unaware of our great struggles!
    2. Another neighbor mailed packages!!
    4. Another woman bought us necessities and gave us some cash
    5. My youngest was very gentle with her step dad in changing bandages
    6. My sis and I visited and comforted each other
    7. My niece sent cookies to my sister just at the moment she was really missing Christmas cookies
    Dinner brought to us Christmas Eve and someone to help me wrap gifts tomorrow. I’m still so tired and Curt is sooo sore. Yet blessings come, over and over I’m just so very tired now my emotions feel flat.

    • My dear friend, I pray that Curt is quickly improving and healing and I’m so grateful that God has blessed you in so many lovely and tangible ways this season. Joy seems elusive and yet, you do not realize that your words typed, though come from a place of weariness and pain are filled with joy. Gwen, it would be wonderful to FEEL that joy… but that joy is what carries you through these trials. And that joy will intensify as Curt’s healing comes. Praying this year is one where you find rest and wholeness and healing and prosperity in your household. Let it be so, Lord. Let it be.

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