This is the third in a trilogy of blog posts by Sr. Rose Pacatte looking at some of this year's new holiday television movies. The first post, focusing on "Have a Little Faith," can be found here. The second post, on "Game of Your Life," can be found here.
The Heart of Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 4
GMC, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST
The Gospel Music Channel, now knows as GMC, will air its first primetime made-for-TV movie, "The Heart of Christmas," on Sunday.
It is based on the true story of little Dax Locke, who, at the age of 13 months, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. The family literally moved from Illinois to St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis for 18 months. Julie, Dax's mom, started a blog that touched thousands of people.
"The Heart of Christmas" is a movie about paying it forward, about finding grace when you least expect it, and the amazing courage of a family and a neighborhood that came together to give Dax one last Christmas and then to help other children get the treatment they need.
This is a Christian movie that touches the heart rather than hitting you over the head with a "message." The film stars Candace Cameron Bure, of "Full House" fame, as a mom and wife who hides in her work and whose life is changed by reading about Dax and St. Jude's Hospital.
Christian music artist Matthew West had a great deal to do with bringing this story to television. Here's the music video of the song "One Last Christmas"; another version appears at the end of the movie.
You can find GMC at DISH Network on channel 188, DIRECTV on channel 338 and Verizon FiOS on channel 224.