The Gift of Peace

This is a film with a message about grief, loss and faith. There is a heavy Christian message, so forewarned if that message will bother you.

It tells the story of a painter named Traci who's husband passed away two years prior. Not only was he her husband but her painting partner as well. As her father said, they complemented each other. Traci, her family and friends all had faith and prayed for her husband's brain surgery to be successful. When it wasn't, Traci became angry, stopped praying, stopped going to church and almost gave up on her painting career.

Traci's friend and manager advises her to attend her church's support group. The support group is small and consists of the leader, an elderly woman who lost her husband who was the Santa Claus to her Mrs. Claus, a younger woman whose mom and fellow choir member passed, and a young man whose grandmother passed leaving him her baking business which didn't go well with his family.

This is all about having a safe space to talk or not talk...but most importantly to know what you are feeling is ok. What a wonderful message. I cried and cried, but it was good.

I recommend this to anyone who has experienced loss. It was quite lovely.

For anyone expecting a Hallmark romcom, this is NOT a Hallmark romcom. It's most definitely a drama, and for the most part a very depressing drama.

It centers around a grief therapy group, so all your principal characters are in grief and haven't recovered from their loss, including the man who leads the group.

We've liked both leads in other movies, and they do a good job with this, but be ready to be sad for two hours. Even the romantic solution at the end doesn't do much to lift your spirits.

For those who, in particular, have lost a close spouse, this movie is more likely to mire you back into that experience, I'd think, than anything else. We found it sad and neither my wife nor I have lost a spouse.

So, you're fairly warned.

Having personally lost someone and having to process that loss during the holidays, this movie touched my heart in so many ways and was such a blessing to me. Nikki DeLoach and Brennan Elliott, along with the other actors, did a wonderful job of portraying those who are struggling to process the loss of loved ones. Their stories are genuine and very touching as they share what they are feeling. They are honest in their grief and in the way they share their hearts. I hope that others who watch this are as touched by the senitments expressed as much as I was, especially if they are still processing the loss of someone special in their lives.

In a year when TV viewers are submerged in a sea of mostly insipid and uninspired Christmas movies, Hallmark has the courage to produce a story with real emotions and Christian values. Frankly, I am fed up with silly contests, childish antagonisms, and heroines that are passionately kissing a new love just a couple of days after breaking up with a boyfriend. Here we have people with honest feelings of grief, after a loss, who find closure and new hope through friendship, caring for others , and faith. The characters feel real, with true human dimensions and the sentiments are expressed with measure, which conveys their relevance with subtlety, yet poignancy. Nikki Deloach is wonderful in her role and Brennan Elliott shines, as well. Actually all actors provide very credible performances, probably a reflection of a solid script and wise direction. The movie leaves you with more than just holiday mirth. It leaves you reflecting on realistic and deeper human values. I must confess I am not a churchgoer. Yet, I can only admire the strength and kindness of this story. After all, this is what Christmas is supposed to be about.

The true Hallmark has returned with this one!! Finally a heart warming family oriented Christmas movie about faith, hope and dreams. A real life story of life, how to deal with life after losing someone in your life. Nikki has out done herself in her performance, last year was "Five Minutes More" and now "Gift of Peace"! Nice to see how 5 grieving people open up and move on with life. As a Christian it's nice to see Hallmark the true meaning of the holidays to life. Bringing God into real life movies with prayer and dreams makes this a heart warming movie. Thank you Nikki and Hallmark for this wonderful gift!!