"The Gift of Peace" Is a Faith-Based Christmas Movie from Hallmark's Dayspring

Nikki DeLoach and Brennan Elliott star in The Gift of Peace, a movie about losing faith and finding hope and peace once again in God.

Image:  Hallmark Media

The Gift of Peace Offers Hope to the Hurting

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year--Andy Williams said so!

For those who grieve the loss of a loved one, however, Christmas can be a season where the pain of missing someone feels highly pronounced.  A stocking is missing from the mantle, a chair at Christmas dinner is empty, and former family traditions feel empty without them.  

Traci (DeLoach) is an artist who lost her husband two years previously from a brain tumor, and her creative spark died with him.  She is pressed for time to finish a piece for an upcoming art exhibit, but her artist's block keeps obstructing inspiration.  

When a friend suggests she join a grief support group, Traci returns to her old church where the group meets.  Traci leaves abruptly but is gently coaxed back by the group leader, Mike (Elliott).

Traci is raw and honest with Mike.  When her husband, Greg, was diagnosed with a brain tumor, she prayed and believed he would be healed.  He wasn't.  Since then, she stopped attending church and stopped praying because she was angry that none of it worked.

Have you ever been in Traci's shoes?  

Traci doesn't understand how a support group can help.  Won't rehashing the issues just make everyone re-live the pain?  Mike reminds Traci that it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to turn things around (Matthew 17:20).

When we are faced with grief, we have two options:  run away from God, or run toward Him.  Traci chooses the latter.  As Traci leans in on faith in God, she starts praying again, and this time, things change.  Not only is she inspired to help the other group members experience a Christmas miracle, but she finishes a piece for her exhibit, which she calls Hearts of Healing.  

The Gift of Peace Is Poignant but Lacks a Christmas Vibe

Although DeLoach and Brennan are veteran Hallmark actors whom everyone loves, the chemistry between the two is downplayed on purpose.  They are two characters who are rediscovering faith, overcoming grief, and finding their next steps.  While the two share a spark and want to pursue it, there is no big kiss at the end, but it's not disappointing, considering the nature of the plot.

Image:  Hallmark Media

The Gift of Peace is heavy but ultimately uplifting.  It's not the Christmas movie to watch from your DVR if you're in the mood for light-hearted romance.

Faith-based movies like The Gift of Peace were once a Hallmark staple, especially since Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season.  Hallmark seems to forget that, especially under the leadership of the uber-liberal CEO, Wonya Lucas.  Under Lucas's watch, many Hallmark Christmas movies are now overly focused on themes stemming from left-wing political ideology, which are a far-cry from a Biblical worldview.  

Let's hope Hallmark will return to its roots and offer more Dayspring movies that emphasize faith and family-friendly values.

Best Advice from The Gift of Peace

If The Gift of Peace speaks to your own pain due to a personal loss, then the sweetest line from the movie comes from a flashback of Traci's husband Greg as he prepares her for what might lie ahead:

"Never stop laughing.  Never stop loving.  And, never stop living." 

Your loved one would undoubtedly tell you the same thing.

Image:  Hallmark Media