Do you hear the Bells?
Adult Children of Divorce and others who have experienced loss , often feel conflicted at this time of year. Holidays often bring warm , happy feelings and well-wishes, good food and gifts of many kinds. For those who are grieving , the messages we receive from others may not match with the way we feel at the moment. Henry W. Longfellow experienced this on Christmas Day in 1863. His wife had recently died in an accident , and his oldest son was serving as a Union soldier in the American Civil War, without his father's blessing. Henry penned his poem "Christmas Bells" when he was feeling the conflict, of the hope and good news of the season, yet feeling his own personal loss at the same time. Later the poem was put to music. I have always loved the sound and melody of the song, but only recently truly read and thought about Longfellow's words. And I added a few stanzas of my own, as follows: I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar car