December 25, 1945 — Phil and Marilyn’s Best Christmas Ever

Published by WaltLarimore at December 25, 2025

Christmas morning, church bells were simultaneously ringing across the whole city. Phil sat up and grabbed the crutches leaning by his bed and hurried over to the window, opened it, and stuck his head out into the clear, crisp air.[1]

He smiled and chucked to himself as he whispered:

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

He was startled as he felt Marilyn at his side. She put her arm around him, laughing as she continued the poem:

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a luster of midday to objects below.

He pulled her close as they listened to the church bells together.

“I remember back in school reading a poem about Christmas bells. I wish I could quote it.”

“I can,” she said. “Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is one of my favorite poets. And, I love that poem.”

She though a moment, and began:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till 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!

“A perfect one for our first Christmas after that horrible war,” Phil said.

“Especially the last verse,” she said.

Then pealed 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.”

“That’s the true story that I learned from these past few years. Too many spent away from you.”

He turned to embrace her. “This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had!”

“It’s wonderful,” she whispered.

“The sound of freedom!” was all he could say as the pealing of bells echoed far and wide, floating through the Christmas air from every direction.

“To quote another of my favorite authors, ‘God bless us, everyone!’” she added.

Their Christmas kiss was long and cherished.[1]

~~~~~

[1] Larimore, At First Light, 300. This was the original text submitted to the editor, who chose to cut the poems. I hope you enjoy and are blessed by them.