The Merry-Something-Day

From My Perspective - - -

One of America's best known poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), contributed to the wealth of carols sung each Christmas season, when he composed the words to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" on December 25th 1864. The carol was originally a poem, "Christmas Bells," containing seven stanzas. Two stanzas were omitted, which contained references to the American Civil War, thus giving us the carol in its present form. The poem gave birth to the carol, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” When Longfellow penned the words to his poem, America was still months away from Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9th 1865; and, his poem reflected the prior years of the war's despair, while ending with a confident hope of triumphant peace. As with any composition that touches the heart of the hearer, it flowed from the experience of Longfellow involving the tragic death of his wife Fanny and the crippling injury of his son Charles from war wounds. Tragedy struck both the nation and the Longfellow family in 1861. Confederate Gen. Pierre G.T. Beauregard fired the opening salvos of the American Civil War on April 12th… Almost a year later, Longfellow received word that his oldest son Charles, a Lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac, had been severely wounded with a bullet passing under his shoulder blades and taking off one of the spinal processes. On Christmas Day of 1864, he wrote the words of the poem, "Christmas Bells." Some of the words of his poem are:

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.”

We’ve come a long way in our nation, culture and society. The demands of Political Correctness demand that we have Holiday Trees and Cards rather than using the word Christmas. The expression: “Merry Christmas” is now set aside for “Happy Holidays”! The deliberate effort to remove any reference to Christ and His Birth has gained momentum during the past few years. It should come as no surprise that - On December 09, 2009, the Chicago Tribune reported: “President Barack Obama and first lady send out holiday cards marked - Season's Greetings.” The Reporter, Katherine Skiba writes: “President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have chosen an elegant greeting card that announces to recipients: Season's Greetings.” The message in the card is: "May your family have a joyous holiday season and a new year blessed with hope and happiness…” The cover, which is cream-colored with a thin maroon border, depicts a gold wreath encircling a gold presidential coat of arms. The tradition of presidents sending Christmas cards dates to Dwight Eisenhower in 1953. The Obama’s selection, though, makes no mention of "Christmas." Nor does it feature a biblical passage (as favored by George W. and Laura Bush) or an artistic rendering of a room in the White House (often the case under Bill and Hillary Clinton).” In fairness, the Polls indicate this country is predominantly a “Christian Nation.” If so, where is the voice and outrage of the so-called Christian people?

It should not surprise one that in order to adequately announce the Birth of Christ, Luke 2:8-14 states: “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!" If you are a “Christian”, this is to be both your identity and message. Don’t blame the culture, society or nation. Look in the mirror and ask yourself how much you really believe the Christmas reality and message. Consider these things with me!