You might think of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow as that 1800s author who wrote all those classical poems that you probably had to memorize parts of in grade school. But you may remember the Christmas carol he wrote the words to, as well, though you may not have realized the back story.
âI Heard the Bells on Christmas Dayâ is one of our favorites â itâs different than most Christmas carols. We like it because it offers true perspective, grim reality set against faith that good will prevail. That sort of thinking seems simplistic, but when you know what Longfellow went through in the creation of those lyrics, that thinking gains some credibility. It seems an apt carol for present circumstances . and it might help us put our present-day suffering in perspective.
Health care professionals all across the state and nation are pleading with us to show restraint. This one holiday season, they ask, we don t have big in-home family gatherings, we don t use public transportation, we don t go out and eat indoors. We wear masks, we keep our distance from others, we don t mix with people outside those in our own household .
It s tough. Most of us who will honor the request from the people on the frontline will count this as the first holiday season we don t get together with family and friends.
It s hard.
But it s not that hard. Seriously. It s a significant contribution to the health of the region, state and nation . but it s not a great sacrifice.