Back to 1989: Reclaiming Peace and Presence This Holiday Season

Let’s throw it back for a second. Picture this: It’s 1989. No group texts buzzing. No Instagram stories to catch up on. No food delivery apps stealing your dinnertime joy. Just a bowl of popcorn, the smell of mom’s pot roast simmering on the stove, and “Family Ties” playing in the background while someone yells, “It’s your turn!” during Monopoly.

It wasn’t perfect. But it was slower. Simpler. And honestly? More peaceful. Last week, we talked about unplugging during the holiday season—turning down the noise so we can actually hear the gentle whisper of God’s peace. This week, we’re turning the dial even further back—not to escape, but to remember the rhythms that once made home feel like a sanctuary, not just a pit stop. Let’s be real—peace isn’t about having the quietest house, it’s about creating sacred space in the middle of the chaos. And sometimes the best way to move forward is to borrow a few things from the past.

1. Reclaim the Family Table Before fast food became the fifth food group, dinnertime was where connection happened. It wasn’t about fancy plating or Pinterest-worthy meals—it was about gathering. Laughing. Listening. Slowing down. Tip: Choose one night a week where you bring everyone to the table—no phones, no TV, just people and plates. Light a candle. Say grace like you mean it. Maybe even let your kids plan the menu (yes, even if it’s spaghetti again). God’s Word says, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46). What if peace looks like pulling up a chair and passing the rolls?

2. Bring Back Game Night Remember board games? The kind with missing pieces, bent corners, and decades of laughter baked in? Whether it was Uno, Clue, or that never-ending Monopoly marathon—game night used to be a whole thing. Tip: Pick a night this month and go screen-free. Drag out an old board game (or grab one from a thrift store). Let the kids stay up a little too late. Let someone make hot cocoa. Watch how laughter builds bridges faster than WiFi ever could. Games don’t just pass time—they create memories. And memories? Those are peace-makers too.

3. Sunday Night Movie Traditions Before everything became “on demand,” we had to wait all week for that one movie on Sunday night. And somehow, that wait made it sweeter. Tip: Start a weekly movie night this season—blankets, popcorn, and all. Pick a favorite from your childhood (bonus points if it’s a cheesy 80s Christmas flick), and share the stories behind it. Let the kids roll their eyes—they’ll thank you later. Peace is found in presence, not perfection. When you invite people into your peace-filled traditions, you’re teaching them how to anchor their hearts when the world feels too fast.

4. Start a Family Puzzle There’s something sacred about the slowness of a puzzle. No competition. No noise. Just quiet teamwork and occasional laughter over the missing corner piece. Tip: Set up a puzzle on the coffee table and let it live there for a few weeks. It becomes an invitation—“sit for a while.” And sometimes, that’s exactly what someone in your home needs. Puzzles teach patience. Togetherness. And the quiet joy of watching something come together, piece by piece. Sound familiar? That’s the very thing God does with us.

Peace Isn’t Found in the Past—But the Past Can Teach Us How to Find It Friend, we’re not trying to recreate 1989—we’re just remembering the beauty of being fully present. Of making time for what actually matters. Of choosing slow over hurried, connection over convenience, peace over perfection. Jesus is still the Prince of Peace. But sometimes we have to clear space—mentally, emotionally, and even digitally—to let His peace rule in our hearts and homes. So this week, let’s put down the phone. Turn off the scroll. And choose traditions that actually fill us—because peace isn’t passive. It’s intentional. And let me just say: you’re doing better than you think. One slow, sacred step at a time.

Try This: Pick one tradition from this list to revive this week. Ask your family what they loved from “the old days” and bring it back. Write down one thing that helps your home feel more peaceful, and do it—imperfectly and wholeheartedly. You are not stuck—you’re just getting still. And God? He meets you in the stillness.

Love you like Sunday pot roast and fuzzy socks,

💛 Jenna

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