First of all,
to introduce myself, I really want to explain my blog/Instagram name. My mom asked me about it today, so I figured some of you might be curious as
well!
My name is
actually very Christmas inspired! Like Charles Dickens said, “I will honour
Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” I suppose this is part
of my way to honor the Spirit of Christmas all year!
So what am I
even talking about? Most of you have probably heard ‘I Heard the Bells’,
written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. What you might not know is the story
behind it – I didn’t until my mom told it a few days before Christmas!
Henry
married Fanny Longfellow on July 13th 1843, and they lived together
in Massachusetts. Together they had five children. 1861 was a tragic year for
the Longfellow’s. On July 10th, Fanny Longfellow was fatally burned
in the library of her home. She had been trimming her young daughter’s
beautiful curls when she decided to preserve the clippings in sealing wax. When
melting a bar of wax with a candle, a few drops fell on her dress. A breeze
gusted through the window, lighting the material of Fanny’s dress and
immediately wrapping her in flames. In her attempt to protect her daughters,
she ran to Henry’s study. Henry frantically tried to extinguish the flames with
a throw rug, to no avail. He then tried to smother the flames by throwing his
arms around Fanny, severely burning his face, arms, and hands. Fanny died the
next morning. Henry was too ill from his burns and grief to even attend her
funeral.
The
first Christmas after Fanny’s death, Longfellow wrote, “How inexpressibly sad
are all holidays.” A year after the accident, he wrote, “I can make no record
of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will
give me peace.” His journal entry for December 25th, 1862 reads: “A
merry Christmas’ say the children, but that is no more for me.”
A
year later, Longfellow received word that his oldest son Charles, a lieutenant
in the Army of the Potomac, had been seriously wounded with a bullet passing under
his shoulder blades and taking off a spinal process. The Christmas of 1863 was not
recorded in Longfellow’s journal.
Finally,
on Christmas Day of 1864, he wrote the poem, “Christmas Bells.” The occasion of
writing the carol was not due to Charles’ death, as his son lived – rather, it
is thought to be inspired by the soon to come end of the war, or Longfellow’s
ability to finally see the hope of life again.
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!"
“The carol
concludes with the bells carrying renewed hope for peace among men.” After so
much grief, so many trials, and so much hardship in his life, Longfellow was
still able to share his belief in God and his hope for the future. He was still
able to hear the bells of hope, and put forward enough effort to share that
glorious music!
I hope to be
like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in that way. I hope to be able to find hope and
peace in the gospel my entire life, whatever may come my way. I hope to always
strive to share that message of love and joy in whatever ways I can. I truly believe
in peace on earth and good-will to men. Kindness and understanding will bring
you so far in life, and in the gospel. I have heard the Bells of Hope ringing,
singing on their way, both loud and deep. I want to share that message, that
hope, and that love with everyone I can!! Is not the message of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints peace and good-will to men? Is it not hope? I promise that if you look at the pure doctrines of the church, and not at media or imperfect people, you will find that it is.
If you made it
to the end of this post, you are seriously amazing. I hope you felt the spirit
of the story as much as I did when I heard it! I’m so excited to start this new
journey with all of you and I hope you enjoy taking it with me!
XOXO,
Savannah
( Thanks to WhatSaithTheScripture.com & Wikipedia for the story info! )
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