First of all, I’m thankful you’ve realized this has been happening to you and your family, and that you want to do something about it. All too often, I’m afraid, we lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas –and we aren’t even aware it’s happened to us. The Bible says, “Wake up, sleeper… and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14).

Christmas is almost upon us and though it may seem too late to rediscover its true meaning –it is not. If your church has a Christmas Eve service, make a special effort to attend. Before you and your family go to bed tonight, take a few minutes to read together one of the accounts of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2 or Luke 2). Pause also to pray and thank God for sending His Son into the world on that first Christmas night. Then, at breakfast tomorrow morning, take a few moments to thank God for the greatest Christmas gift ever –the gift of His Son.

Christmas comes only once a year, but shouldn’t we celebrate Christ’s coming throughout the year? Of course we should, for He came to give us hope and peace and joy, not just at Christmas but every day of our lives.

Make Christ part of your family’s life every day, and when Christmas comes again next year, you’ll find He’ll still be at its center. Remember: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).