I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Yesterday I read the story behind the making of this Christmas carol written by famous poet,Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The words and tune stayed in my mind all day and I was so overwhelmed by it's timeless message I decided to make a card highlighting the message of this song. Just like today, it was written when his world seemed overwhelmed with violence and hatred.

In 1861 his wife had died when her dress caught on fire. The Civil War broke out and two years later his 17 year old son ran away to join the Union army. He contracted typhoid fever and went home for two months to heal. When he went back he was shot in the shoulder and was nearly paralyzed because it was near his spine. Longfellow took him home December 8th to nurse him.

Longfellow wrote this carol while sitting by his bed . I included the entire verse below that I printed inside my card. I had never realized it talked about canons in the South or how the continent was rent, torn. The verse that keeps playing in my mind says,

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!"

Thank God the message of hope is found in his last stanza:

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 cut out the bell and holly image from one I had saved previously and printed from Clearly Vintage. I printed two more bells and cut those out, covered them with CTMH Gold Shimmer brush for added dimension and shine.  I used the new challenge to use an old challenge from Christmas Card Throwdown's February 2012, Red, Green, and Gold and the sketch from Try Stamping on Tuesday #352:

Inside I stamped the bell from CTMH retired Yuletide Joy using Sweet Leaf ink and the Christmas sentiment from retired Holly Jolly Christmas. The background holly paper is from Graphic 45 Winter Wonderland, the red glittery paper is unknown from my stash, and the gold glitter paper, punched with a scallop, is CTMH. The Colonial White diecut is from Our Daily Bread Design's die, Lavish Layers and is embossed with a Cuttlebug dotted embossing folder. I wanted to keep it flat enough to mail so I embellished it with a thin  red satin ribbon and CTMH gold sequins.

Thank you for visiting! I hope you'll share my prayer for peace on earth, goodwill toward all men!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Christmas Card Throwdown December Challenge - pick a previous challenge from 2012-13
Christmas Cards All Year Round December Challenge - anything Christmas
Craft-Dee BowZ December challenge - anything with handmade bow
Creative Craft Cottage Digi Creations #87 - Happy Christmas
Eclectic Ellapu December Challenge - Christmas

Ike's World #103 - anything goes / optional Victorian Christmas
Let's Craft and Create #132 - Anything Christmas
Paper Creator's Crafts #64 - Christmas and New Years
The Twelve Months of Christmas #36 - anything Christmas (optional-Christmas cupcakes)

Try Stamping on Tuesday #352 - sketch (and celebration twist)

Here's a copy of the entire lyrics written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

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 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,
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
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
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;
"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!"