Your role is a very special and important one. God gives you the opportunity to spread his love into the everyday world, one person at a time. The most important place where you are called to share God's love and compassion is within your own family. Here are some suggestions for you to help bring faith into your home.

• Seek a relationship of friendship and love with Jesus. By having a close relationship with God, you are better equipped to help your children to grow closer to God. How to do this? Instead of watching television or listening to the radio, take a half-hour or even just fifteen minutes to talk to Jesus. Turn off the radio in the car and talk to him. Be real. Talk to him with the openness of a talk show and the sincerity that you would reserve for your closest friend. Be prepared to listen, truly listen, to God.

• Use simple rituals to bring your relationship with Jesus into the family: mealtime prayers, bedtime blessings, storytelling, songs, and other easy traditions. Keep it real, too. Adopt traditions like lighting an Advent wreath during Advent and making sacrifices during Lent. Such experiences help children to experience God in their daily lives and become aware of his presence.

• Let your relationship with Jesus be the model for your relationship with your children. Even when correcting children, make sure you communicate your sincere respect and concern for them.

• Keep your marriage relationship in good condition. Parents who regularly take the time to talk and care for each other are in the best position to communicate their friendship with Christ to their children. Don't be afraid to seek outside help from a priest or counselor.

• help them get along better with you and their siblings,

• help them care about other people, and not just themselves,

• support them as they face their own problems in life,

• show them how to differentiate between good advice and bad advice.