Susan Hines-Brigger

The signs and bumper stickers that read “Jesus is the reason for the season” are absolutely right. All that we celebrate during this Christmas season began with that birth so many years ago in a manger in Bethlehem.

The family connection is a strong one. And it is a blessing. As my oldest daughter, Maddie, said to her brother, Alex, once: “You have to love me, I’m your sister. You have no choice.”

My daughter Riley is an animal lover. After our dog Hobbes passed away, she carried around a ceramic Yorkshire—complete with Hobbes’s old collar and leash—until we got a new puppy. Riley has great concern for all animals, including birds during the winter months.

December brings the shortest days of the year to our country. The lack of natural light can make us feel dreary, tired, and less than joyful. We need light—our bodies crave it.

This week, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. In the Gospel, we hear the story of Jesus being lost in the temple following his family’s visit.