A recent survey by the American Psychology Association found that most U.S. adults plan to gather together with their families this season regardless of political differences. However, some will not attend such gatherings to avoid post-election tension.

The survey found that a majority of U.S. adults (83 percent) agreed that the holidays are a time to forget their political differences. This finding applies to both sides of the political spectrum, including those who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris (82 percent) and President-elect Donald Trump (84 percent).

However, 45 percent of adults aged 18 to 34 plan to skip the holiday family gatherings altogether in order to avoid political debates. Nearly 2 in 5 adults overall said they are avoiding certain family members for the same reason.

I wouldn’t be surprised if young Christians would want to opt out of family gatherings this holiday season because of all the political tension following the election. Understandably so because politics is such a divisive topic. At the same time, however, I am in favor of getting together for family get-togethers this holiday season.

Catching Up
With many young adults moving out, getting their own place, and working full time, it is good that they can set aside some time to spend with family. The holidays should ideally be a time of getting together and catching up. Far beyond politics, it is breaking bread with other family members, including parents, siblings, and relatives. For those traveling from afar, the holidays are to travel back home and catch up with family. The holidays are one of the few times over the year in which such opportunities arise.

Fellowship
In addition to catching up, the holidays should also be a time of fellowship amongst Christian families. Fellowship shouldn’t just be limited to the church building; it should likewise be conducted at home. For some, maybe you grew up in a household that stressed the importance of family worship, which would include a time of Scripture reading, prayer, and song. For others, maybe that wasn’t something you had with the family, even despite talks of God at home.

Make this Christmas season a perfect time to start, especially as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Families should set a time of reflection on the biblical narrative of the Nativity and consider the gravity of the moment. Many churches celebrate this moment through Advent, which prepares one heart for this significant time in history. A reading of the biblical story is read, followed by the lighting of a candle during the church service. In the context of family worship, Advent would be a great way for families to celebrate at home.

Overall, families should gather for a time of fellowship as it will draw them closer to God and to one another. Relationships are strengthened when connecting with each other spiritually. In fact, I contend that is the best way to strengthen a relationship because you dive into discussions on spiritual matters that you normally wouldn’t have with everyone else.

Gratitude
Another reason for holiday worship gatherings is so that families can take time to pause and reflect on what they are grateful for this year. I know that 2024 has been a rough year for some, but that doesn’t mean we have nothing to be grateful for. With God, we have every reason to be grateful, and He is the ultimate reason for our gratitude. Families should consider what God has done this year in their lives and be grateful. They can share how grateful they are to one another, which brings them closer to one another. This practice of gratitude is helpful in today’s times, especially following the election. Instead of being divided by politics, be united in gratitude.

And of course, Christmas is a time of giving gifts to one another, which is one way of expressing gratitude. It is not about the gift, but the thought that counts. Even something small, like sending a Christmas card can go a long way as it shows the other person that you’re thinking about them, especially when the holidays are one of the few times you gather together year-round.

Life Is Short
Friends, in my final point, I want to stress that life is short. Life is short, and it is definitely too short to be bickering over politics. Make it a duty and a delight to spend time together this Christmas. Cherish each other’s company while you still can. Set desire political differences for a moment and come together this Christmas season. With the new year approaching, let us end 2024 with families coming together to spend quality time with one another. Thank God for this year, and pray for each other as we enter 2025.

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