Hallmark Christmas Movies
Do you watch Hallmark Christmas movies together?
If so, what effect do they have on your relationship?
Our Experience
It seems that the stress of the election has made Libby start watching Hallmark Christmas movies earlier than ever. I suspect that we will set a new personal record this year.
We had not been interested in these movies until some dear friends who are much smarter and more sophisticated than we are told us that watching them was helping them get through a
difficult recovery after a health crisis.
They must be popular because Netflix is now carrying them as well as making their own Christmas movies. Sure, the plots are predictable, the people and their homes are all beautiful, and
everyone has the emotional awareness of a seasoned therapist. But at this point it is as if we cannot not watch Hallmark Christmas movies.
“I like watching something that is full of kindness from start to finish,” Libby says. (Will you be surprised if I told you that she made me throw out the first draft of this post because it was too
snarky and cynical? She does not like the word “gag.”)
And I have to admit, sometimes I do feel like my heart is softened up a bit when we watch one together. It’s hard to be mad at each other when you do. Although, I guess it would be possible to make things worse by being critical as you watch.
It is notable that kindness is a key indicator of spiritual health and vitality, what the Bible calls “the fruit of the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22,23) I’m assuming that we all know that spiritual health and vitality are essential for a good relationship.
To even be willing to sit down and watch a Hallmark Christmas movie requires a disposition towards kindness.
“Am I becoming a kinder person?” is a good personal inventory question. And our spouse is the best person to notice the growth. (But, the worse person to hold us accountable to that aspiration. Don’t make the mistake of telling your spouse about this aspiration – tell a friend.)
Test out your willingness to become kinder by watching a Hallmark Christmas movie together.
If you have a recommended movie, share it in a reply to me and I will post it in the following weeks.
Do you watch Hallmark Christmas movies together?
