“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

The Holy Bible Luke 2:14

Dear Parents,

Twinkling lights, Christmas trees and festive decorations around town remind us that Christmas is around the corner, prompting us to get ready for parties or vacation plans. Such joviality and togetherness are particularly uplifting when the weather is grim in winter.   However, it isn’t what Christmas is all meant for.

While anticipating the thrills Christmas brings, I would like to reflect with you on the profound and timeless message at the very core of the Christmas story—a message that speaks directly to our hearts as parents and to the world we are helping to shape for our children. It is a story not of consumerism and materialism, but of peace and reconciliation.

The narrative of the first Christmas over 2000 years ago —of a humble stable, a bright star, and visiting shepherds—is, at its heart, a story about reconnection. It tells of a divine effort to reconcile a fractured relationship between heaven and earth, to extend an olive branch to all of humanity. The birth of Jesus is presented as God’s ultimate gesture of peace, a willingness to meet us exactly where we are, in our most vulnerable and humble state. This foundational act invites us to consider what it means to be peacemakers in our own lives.

For our children, the grand concept of “peace on earth” begins in the microcosm of their world: the home, the playground, and the classroom. It starts with the small, daily choices we make. Christmas, therefore, presents a beautiful opportunity for us to model and teach the true spirit of reconciliation.

Put into action, it could be gently encouraging a child to write a card for a sibling they have been squabbling with, not because they have to, but as a symbolic first step towards mending a friendship. It could be you, as a parent, making that phone call to a relative you have lost contact with, letting the season be a reason to rebuild a bridge that has grown weak. It is in these seemingly small acts that we make the Christmas story tangible. We show our children that peace is not just a lofty ideal, but a practice—one of forgiveness, understanding, and the courage to say, “I’m sorry,” or “Let’s start again.”

The angels’ proclamation of “peace on earth, goodwill to all” was not a declaration of a problem solved, but an invitation to participate. It is a peace that is actively chosen, moment by moment. In a world that often feels divided, teaching our children to be agents of reconciliation is one of the most powerful gifts we can give them. It equips them with the tools to navigate conflict, to empathise with others, and to build stronger, healthier relationships throughout their lives.

This Christmas, as we celebrate the season with sumptuous foods and expensive gifts , let’s share stories that go beyond the presents. Let’s talk about what it means to give the gift of a second chance, the warmth of a healed friendship, or the quiet comfort of a resolved argument. Let us show our children, through our own actions, that the greatest magic of Christmas lies not in tangible gifts, but in the peace and connection we strive hard to nurture.

By embracing this message, we do more than just celebrate a holiday; we honour the profound hope of that first Christmas night and plant its seeds firmly in the hearts of the next generation.

Wishing you and your family a Christmas filled with genuine peace, deep connection, and enduring joy.