True Peace at Christmas

CHRISTMAS -excerpts from a poem by Henry Timrod (1828-1867)

How grace this hallowed day?
Shall happy bells, from yonder ancient spire,
Send their glad greetings to each Christmas fire
Round which the children play?

How could we bear the mirth,
While some loved reveller of a year ago
Keeps his mut Christmas now beneath the snow,
In cold Virginian earth?

How shall we grace the day?
Ah! let the thought that on this holy morn
The Prince of Peace -- the Prince of Peace was born,
Employ us, while we pray!

He, who till time shall cease,
Will watch that earth, where once, not all in vain,
He died to give us peace, may not disdain
A prayer whose theme is -- peace.

Perhaps ere yet the spring
Hath died into the summer, over all
The land, the peace of His vast love shall fall
Like some protecting wing.

Peace in the quiet dales,
Made rankly fertile by the blood of men;
Peace in the woodland, and the lonely glen,
Peace in the peopled vales!

Peace in the crowded town,
Peace in a thousand fields of waving grain,
Peace in thehighway and the flowery lane,
Peace on the wind-swept down!

Peace on the whirring marts,
Peace, where the scholar thinks, the hunter roams,
Peace, God of Peace! peace, peace, in all our homes,
And peace in all our hearts!



This Christ-given peace points not primarily to an inner contentment, but to peace with an all-just, righteous and holy God, who would condemn all except for His sinless Son's intercession on behalf of all who believe in and trust Him for that forgiveness and peace.

May that true peace be yours this season as we celebrate God's greatest gift to a spiritually dead and darkened world. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:12