This is the true story of pain and hope behind the Christmas carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” It was March, 1863, in Cambridge, MA., when unbeknownst to his family, 18-year old Charles Appleton Longfellow, oldest of six children born to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Fannie Appleton, walked out of his house on Brattle Street to join President Lincoln’s Union Army to fight in the Civil War. Less than two years earlier, Charles’ mother died tragically when her dress caught fire. Her husband, Henry, tried desperately to extinguish the flames, but to no avail. She died the following Read More
Tag: joy
A Priceless Gift
I came across this story of a woman from Des Moines, Iowa. I’ll let her tell it in her own words. My name is Mildred Honor. I’m an elementary-school music teacher – something I’ve done for over thirty years. Even though I’ve never had the pleasure of having a prodigy, I have taught some very talented students. I’ve also had my share of ‘musically challenged’ pupils; 11-year old Robby was such a pupil. His mother ( a single mom) dropped him off for his first lesson. I prefer students begin at an earlier age, but Robby said it had always Read More
Hope Found in the Chaos
Because of the recent tragedy in Las Vegas, I am posting a most insightful article by Casey Schutrop of WOW Ministries International – Hope Found in the Chaos TRAGEDY AND TRAUMA Still fresh, the day after the flood of news of the largest mass-shooting on U.S. soil, when the gates of hell rained open fire on people, the shock and ‘angst’ was growing within me. Hurting deeply for the lives lost, the injured and the families affected, my thoughts went to the ripple-effect of this tragedy as I tried to wrap my head around it – when our daily calendars Read More