By Holly Satterthwaite

Christmas can feel full of family tension. Who are you seeing on ‘THE’ day? Seeing your grandma two days after your own birthday is fine, she understands that you have a lot to juggle. But seeing her two days after Jesus’ birthday is completely unacceptable! And your grandma doesn’t even believe in God. Somehow at Christmas the brokenness of relationships feels all the rawer, and decisions over who and who not to gift or see can intentionally or unintentionally play into painful narratives about what lacks in our families.

And yet, Christmas is meant to be the celebration of the birth of The Prince of Peace, Jesus (Isaiah 6:9). Isn’t it ironic that Christmas often feels like the least peaceful holiday . . . the kind that you need a holiday to recover from.

The word ‘Peace’ here is the Hebrew word ‘Shalom’, which is a meaning so much richer than calm or ease, but the bringing of wholeness, completeness, and harmony. It’s about restoration coming to a broken people. At this time of year, our energy can be sucked into negotiating unity over who is hosting or what meat to eat, or who is having quirky Aunt Marge sleep over. But the peace Christ brought was primarily a vertical one – peace with God. The forgiveness of sins, the redemption of mankind to their Creator and the fullness of the Father’s love embraced, which hopefully then overflows to our relationships to others.

This peace is the most precious gift. This ‘shalom’ was brought to Joseph through an angel, reconciling him to Mary. Enabling him to find peace marrying his betrothed who was pregnant not with his child. The Prince of Peace bridged the chasm of life experience between dirty shepherds and wise men from the East. He redeemed corrupt Zacchaeus in Luke 19, embraced a desperate prostitute in Luke 7, and welcomed the criminal hanging next to him on the cross in Luke 23. It’s a peace that challenges us to reassess our grievances, to hold our offences lightly and freely give forgiveness. It gently turns our cheek and allows Uncle Bob a second chance.

The arrival of the Prince of Peace brought salvation to the world, but it didn’t result in everyone sharing a table. Shalom came to Mary and Joseph, yet societal judgement probably contributed to there being no room in the inns in Bethlehem. When the Prince of Peace brought Lazarus back from the dead and restored the man with the withered hand in Matthew 12, the Pharisees conspired on how to destroy them.

When we bring peace, when God lavishes the world in his great shalom, it is not always welcomed. Sometimes the result isn’t unity. Sometimes we will invite Uncle Bob, grieve his refusal, and pray for him as his seat at the dinner table remains empty.

All around the world, many of our brothers and sisters in Christ, over 380 million in fact, live out this reality. Sara was told she was worthless by her father (Iraq),1 nine-year-old Moryom’s classmates throw bricks at her (Bangladesh),2 and Rina’s family rejected her and withdrew all financial support in the middle of college (Nepal).3

This world will have trouble, far beyond our quirky Aunt Marge dilemmas, but the Prince of Peace has come. It may disquiet the waters at times for now, but one day, thanks to that sleeping bundle in a manger, we will dwell in perfect shalom with God and his people forever. One day every tear will be wiped away, and our relationships will no longer be filled with brokenness to navigate.

What can you do today?

Write out what family tensions are causing your stress and pray for God’s blessing over each name. Invite God to show you how to bring peace or trust the brokenness into his hands.

Light a candle and take a moment to remember that the Prince of Peace is here with you and that one day this tension will end.

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