Christmas often arrives wrapped in glittering expectations. From carols that promise silent nights and heavenly peace, to picture-perfect greeting cards showcasing cozy, decorated homes. From Hollywood movies portraying grand family dinners to Instagram reels featuring perfectly executed Christmas traditions. This idyllic portrayal seeps into our lives, inspiring us to replicate the perfection—through meticulously arranged decor, carefully planned parties, and perfectly chosen presents. But let’s be honest—how often does Christmas really go according to plan?

Netflix’s animated film That Christmas offers a refreshingly honest take on the season. Instead of perfection, it celebrates the chaos, reminding us that Christmas, at its heart, thrives on the beautiful messiness of life. Set in the picturesque yet snowstorm-ravaged seaside town of Wellington-on-Sea, the film draws the viewers into a series of misadventures. A snowstorm scatters families, leaving the kids to improvise their own celebration. Sants gives gifts to the wrong sibling (the naughty one!). Christmas turkeys that should be on the dinner table are running around town. A young boy has to endure Christmas pudding alone as his parents, going through a divorce are also stuck at work. Through all these unplanned and chaotic scenes, the film revels in the unpredictability of the season. It’s far from the orderly Christmas we’re taught to expect—but therein lies its magic.

This chaos feels closer to the original Christmas story in the Bible than the sanitized versions we often depict. Think of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem—a young, expectant couple forced to travel miles due to a bureaucratic census. They arrived in a crowded city only to face rejection after rejection, finally settling in a stable among unhygienic livestock. The setting was far from ideal, yet it became the birthplace of hope for all humanity. The shepherds, regarded as societal outsiders, were chosen as the first guests of the divine child. All this taking place as a power hungry, corrupt and evil ruler executes an order to kill all children below the age of two.  The first Christmas was not polished or serene—it was messy, raw, and absolutely chaotic.

Yet, we see in the film, community emerges from chaos. Bernie, tasked with looking after the younger children, discovers new Christmas traditions. Danny, initially mopping over his mother having to work on Christmas, chooses to selflessly make it special for her instead. Miss Trapper, the stern teacher, sheds her tough exterior to reveal a heart brimming with kindness. The townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea, thrown together by the blizzard, rise to the occasion, creating a patchwork of imperfect but heartfelt celebrations.

Both the movie and the biblical narrative emphasize that Christmas isn’t about perfection. It’s about making space for the unexpected, welcoming the unplanned, and finding beauty in imperfection. The shepherds didn’t fit the mold of royal witnesses, yet they rejoiced at the manger. The magi didn’t belong to the chosen people, yet their gifts honored the Christ child. And in That Christmas, the quirky, flawed, and ordinary characters discover that they, too, belong in the story of Christmas.

This is the heart of the season—not the flawless execution of traditions but the unifying power of love and grace. The true message of Christmas, whether told through a modern animated film or the ancient biblical account, is the beauty and blessedness found in imperfection. Christ came to transform misfits into family, helping us find joy and hope in the midst of our own unplanned experiences.

So this Christmas, let’s set aside the quest for perfection. Let’s embrace the mess, welcome the surprises, keep an open home and find joy in the imperfections that make the season truly meaningful. Because, as That Christmas and the first Christmas teach us, it’s in the chaos and the unexpected that we find the deepest blessings.

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Written by Joshua George