i attended a memorial service. not exactly something you expect to do less than two weeks before christmas. but my childhood friend’s grandpa passed away and i wanted to be there for her.
i found myself thinking about life and death during the service. here we are getting ready to celebrate the birth of our savior and instead we are mourning the death of a loved one. yet as the service progressed, it was easy to see that this wasn’t a death to be mourned but instead a life to be remembered. everyone that shared spoke about a man that loved the Lord and shared his faith with others.
this is a poem originally written by henry wadsworth longfellow and a song by casting crowns. i really like the melody. but driving home from the memorial service, i was actually listening to the words and struck by the simple beauty.
sometimes i start thinking there is no peace on earth, nor will there ever be. that’s what heaven is for. but then i realize that there can be peace on earth…as a believer i have peace that is just a little glimpse of the peace in heaven that is to come.
i don’t know what surrounds you this holiday season but i would encourage you to rest in the peace of a Savior sent to earth to grow up and die on a cross for you and me so that we might be in relationship with Him once again!
I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play And mild and sweet their songs repeat Of peace on earth good will to men And the bells are ringing Like a choir they're singing In my heart I hear them 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 But the bells are ringing Like a choir singing Does anybody hear them? Peace on earth, good will to men Then rang 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 Then 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 And the bells they're ringing Like a choir they're singing And with our hearts we'll hear them Peace on earth, good will to men Do you hear the bells they're ringing? The life the angels singing Open up your heart and hear them Peace on earth, good will to men Peace on earth, Peace on earth Peace on earth, Good will to men