Christmas is undoubtedly the most popular and universal event, which rightly celebrates the child. Children are indeed the seeds of tomorrow. Earmarking a day at the threshold of a New Year to pay tribute to them is as symbolic as it is legitimate, even more so as we should bear in mind that the baby we celebrate at Christmas is the symbol of hope and salvation for Christians.

However, for children to bear the fruits of a better future, they need to be nurtured and watered with the best nutrients a family can give. The family is the very base of a child?s fulfilment and hence the crucible of society. Had the child Jesus not been from the very first day supported by his mother and father, would he have been able to reach his potential as a saviour?

The image of the holy family we celebrate at Christmas, does it not call for a renewal of the responsibility we parents bear towards the future through the way we educate our wards? It?s no coincidence that the word family comes from the Latin ?famulus?, which means servant. A family is before all a servant of society. Bringing up our children in the spirit of service and cooperation is the best gift we can give to them and to our society at Christmas.

After all does not Christmas celebrate the coming of a child who is to save humanity?

Alain JEANNOT