The holidays are supposed to be about joy, togetherness, and celebration, but for blended families, they often feel more like navigating a minefield. Whose house do the kids go to for Christmas morning? How do you handle conflicting traditions? What happens when your stepchildren would rather be with their other parent, or when ex-spouses create drama that steals the magic from what should be special moments?
Blended family holidays come with unique challenges that traditional families never face. You’re trying to honor multiple sets of traditions while creating new ones, managing complex schedules that involve multiple households, and dealing with children who may feel torn between loyalties. Add in the stress of wanting everything to be perfect for your new family unit, and the holidays can become a source of anxiety rather than joy.
These verses won’t solve every scheduling conflict or eliminate every awkward moment, but they offer wisdom for approaching blended family holidays with grace, flexibility, and focus on what truly matters: love, gratitude, and the presence of God in your beautifully complicated family.
Bible Verses for Managing Blended Family Holidays
1. Colossians 3:14 – Above All, Put On Love
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
New International Version (NIV)
2. Romans 12:10 – Be Devoted to One Another in Love
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3. Ephesians 4:2-3 – Make Every Effort to Keep the Unity
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
New King James Version (NKJV)
4. 1 Corinthians 16:14 – Do Everything in Love
And do everything with love.
New Living Translation (NLT)
5. Philippians 2:3-4 – Value Others Above Yourselves
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6. Romans 15:7 – Accept One Another
Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7. 1 Peter 4:9 – Offer Hospitality to One Another
Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
King James Version (KJV)
8. Galatians 6:2 – Carry Each Other’s Burdens
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
9. Romans 14:19 – Make Every Effort to Do What Leads to Peace
So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault.
The Message (MSG)
10. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Encourage One Another and Build Each Other Up
Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
11. Hebrews 13:2 – Do Not Forget to Show Hospitality to Strangers
Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.
New English Translation (NET)
12. Proverbs 17:1 – Better a Dry Crust with Peace
Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13. Matthew 18:20 – Where Two or Three Gather in My Name
Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
14. Psalm 133:1 – How Good and Pleasant It Is
How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony!
Good News Translation (GNT)
15. 1 Peter 3:8 – All of You, Be Like-Minded
Finally, all of you should be agreeable, understanding, loving toward each other, kind, and humble.
New Century Version (NCV)
16. Romans 12:18 – If It Is Possible, Live at Peace
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
International Standard Version (ISV)
17. Ecclesiastes 4:12 – A Cord of Three Strands Is Not Quickly Broken
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Tree of Life Version (TLV)
18. Luke 6:31 – Do to Others as You Would Have Them Do to You
And just as you want people to treat you, treat them the same way.
Lexham English Bible (LEB)
19. James 1:19 – Everyone Should Be Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak
So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
World English Bible (WEB)
20. Proverbs 15:1 – A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.
American Standard Version (ASV)
21. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
22. Ephesians 4:29 – Do Not Let Any Unwholesome Talk Come Out of Your Mouths
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
New American Bible (NAB)
23. Proverbs 31:26 – She Opens Her Mouth with Wisdom
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB)
24. Matthew 5:9 – Blessed Are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.
English Revised Version (ERV)
25. Psalm 127:1 – Unless the Lord Builds the House
A Song of the Ascents, by Solomon. If Jehovah doth not build the house, In vain have its builders laboured at it, If Jehovah doth not watch a city, In vain hath a watchman waked.
Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
26. Colossians 3:12-13 – Clothe Yourselves with Compassion
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any should have a complaint against any; even as the Christ has forgiven you, so also do ye.
Darby Translation (DARBY)
27. Romans 12:16 – Live in Harmony with One Another
Cherish the same sentiment towards one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Do not become wise in your own estimation.
Weymouth New Testament (WNT)
28. Isaiah 32:17 – The Fruit of That Righteousness Will Be Peace
And the werk of riytfulnesse schal be pees, and the tilthe of riytfulnesse schal be stilnesse and sikirnesse, `til in to with outen ende.
Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
29. 1 Timothy 5:8 – Anyone Who Does Not Provide for Their Relatives
But if any prouide not for his owne, and namely for them of his housholde, he denieth the faith, and is worse then an infidell.
Geneva Bible (GNV)
30. Ruth 1:16 – Where You Go I Will Go
And Ruth sayde: Intreate me not to leaue thee, and to returne from thee: for whither thou goest, I wyll go: and where thou dwellest, I wyll dwell: thy people shalbe my people, and thy God my God.
Bishop’s Bible
31. Acts 2:46-47 – They Broke Bread Together
And dayly contynued with one acorde in the temple and brake breed from housse to housse and dyd eate their meate to gedder with gladnes and singlenes of hert praysinge God and had favoure with all the people.
Tyndale Bible
32. Psalm 68:6 – God Sets the Lonely in Families
God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes rebels live in a sun-scorched land.
The Living Bible (TLB)
33. Isaiah 54:13 – All Your Children Will Be Taught by the Lord
I will teach all your children, and great will be their peace and prosperity.
The Passion Translation (TPT)
34. Malachi 4:6 – He Will Turn the Hearts of the Parents to Their Children
His preaching will turn fathers toward their children and children toward their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and put a curse on the land.
The Voice Bible (VOICE)
35. Psalm 103:17-18 – From Everlasting to Everlasting
But the Lord’s love for those who have respect for him lasts for ever and ever. Their children’s children will know that he always does what is right. He always loves those who keep his covenant. He always does right for those who remember to obey his commands.
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
Our Thoughts on What the Bible Says About Blended Family Holidays
Scripture doesn’t specifically address blended family dynamics, but it’s filled with stories of complicated family situations that required grace, patience, and creative solutions. Think about it: Jacob had children with four different women, David’s family tree was messy, and even Jesus’ earthly family involved step-relationships when Joseph married Mary.
What strikes me most about biblical wisdom for family relationships is the emphasis on choice over blood. Ruth chose to stay with Naomi despite having every reason to leave. The early church created family bonds that transcended biological connections. These stories remind us that love, commitment, and shared values matter more than traditional family structures.
The key to successful blended family holidays isn’t perfection; it’s flexibility and grace. Scripture calls us to prefer others above ourselves, which sometimes means letting go of our ideal holiday plans for the sake of peace. It means choosing gratitude over resentment when schedules get complicated. Most importantly, it means remembering that holidays are about celebrating God’s goodness together, not about maintaining traditions at all costs. Sometimes the most Christ-like thing we can do is create new traditions that honor everyone involved.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, blended family holidays feel overwhelming sometimes. We want to create magical memories, but coordinating schedules, managing different expectations, and navigating complex relationships makes everything feel complicated. Help us remember that the goal isn’t perfection but connection.
Give us wisdom to know when to hold onto traditions and when to create new ones. Help us put the children’s needs above our own preferences, even when that means being flexible with our plans. When conflicts arise with ex-spouses or extended family members, help us respond with grace rather than defensiveness.
Show our children that families come in all shapes and sizes, and that love multiplies rather than divides when we welcome more people into our hearts. Help them feel secure in our love, even when they’re pulled between multiple households during the holidays.
Most of all, help us focus on what truly matters: gratitude for Your blessings, love for each person You’ve placed in our family, and the joy of celebrating together. Make our home a place of peace where everyone feels welcomed and valued.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.