On the roll call of virtues God’s chosen ones should practice, the Letter to the Colossians lists “bearing with one another”—it’s along the lines of “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In daily life “bearing with” can mean “putting up with” or “tolerating” or “carrying one another’s burdens.”

Babies and small children are like sponges. They absorb everything you give them: food and love, stimulation and life lessons of every kind. Children are eager for instruction, new experiences, opportunities to stretch and explore. They thrive within carefully crafted limitations that help shape their souls and character.

Every year Jesus’ parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When he was 12, they went up as they always did for the Feast. When it was over and they left for home, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it.

Christmas brings a slew of photo cards from friends and relatives looking clean and shiny and happy. But the glistening family portraits don’t capture the full story of what each family has been through or what lies ahead.

WITH A DESIRE to walk in the ways of the Lord, we ask God to forgive us.

On this Feast of the Holy Family, family imagery abounds. Ben Sira lays down a system of behavior and reward: If you honor your parents, your prayers will be heard and you’ll get children, long life, and banked-up righteousness you can use against your sins.

A child needs both to be hugged and unhugged. The hug lets her know she is valuable. The unhug lets her know that she is viable. —Polly Berrien Berends, Gently Lead