Q: New year, new beginnings ... yada-yada-yada. It seems like every year I set goals for new things I want to accomplish, but even when I've managed to follow through and achieve them, I still feel unfulfilled. Isn't life all about seeking and finding new experiences? What am I missing?

Jim: At New Year's parties all over the world, many people celebrate midnight by breaking into a rendition of the classic song "Auld Lang Syne." It's a perfect tune to ring in the new year ... if you know what the words mean and take them to heart.

"Auld Lang Syne" is usually sung out of tradition, much like the "Happy Birthday" jingle at a party, but few understand its meaning. After all, what is meant by: "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne?" Those words actually call us to meaningful relationships in the new year.

The Scottish words "auld lang syne" literally mean "days of old." So, translated, the song is asking: "Should old acquaintances be forgotten from days of long ago?" In other words, the song calls us not to forget the important relationships that define our lives as we move into the new year.

That's a wonderful reminder. New Year's resolutions usually involve diet plans or professional goals. But do we ever consider how we can deepen our current relationships or reconnect where there's been strain in the past? That's the kind of resolution that could make this coming year the best one yet.

There's nothing wrong with setting goals for learning new skills or improving ourselves. But true connection and fulfillment come from having relationships with deep roots. Whatever we do and wherever we go, we're more apt to succeed when we have strong bonds with people we know well and love.

So when the clock strikes midnight on January 1, sing those words from your heart -- and let them move you closer toward the important people who are already in your life.

Q: Do you have any creative ideas to help me stay connected with my kids? We're all so involved that it feels like we never have a moment to share.

Danny Huerta, Vice President, Parenting and Youth: You're not alone -- in a Pew Research survey, 56 percent of working parents reported difficulty in balancing work and quality family time.

The secret is addition by subtraction. In other words, choosing to say "no" to some things for each member of the family will serve to free up everybody's time for saying "yes" to each other.

In my house, we have a family night each week and make sure to pray and laugh together. Another simple yet powerful tool that works for us (and many families I've counseled professionally) is keeping "connection journals." These are journals we each have at our place on the kitchen table. They allow us all to write short messages to one another -- notes of encouragement, inspiring quotes, Bible verses, riddles and jokes and words of gratitude for what that person means to us.

Reading (and rereading) what's been written in these journals is like opening a gift. My son reads his before leaving for school; my daughter sometimes takes hers to read later in the day. My wife looks at her journal throughout the day while the rest of us are away from home. I enjoy taking mine to work and on business trips.

Connection journals can provide a quick mental "reset." We can all get off track when negative thinking crowds out perspective. Uplifting words get our thoughts turned around and reconnected with truth and what matters most.

So, give connection journals a try and see what a difference they can make in your family relationships.

Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at www.jimdalyblog.com or at www.facebook.com/DalyFocus.

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Q: I always hear "peace on earth" this time of year, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's even possible -- there's so much conflict in our world. I want to teach my children (and learn myself) to be kind and sensitive to others. At the same time, I find myself cynically wondering if it even matters. What are your thoughts?

Jim: Your question makes me think of a popular quote that has been attributed to a variety of people, but actually traces to Reverend John Watson, a Scottish author and theologian who lived the majority of his life during the second half of the nineteenth century.

In 1897, Reverend Watson was invited by the popular religious newspaper The British Weekly to submit a Christmas message. Using his pen name "Ian MacLaren," he responded with a single sentence:

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

At the time, the paper editorialized and said, "No message is more needed in our days of stress and storm, of selfish striving and merciless competition." Remember -- this was in 1897!

It's easy to romanticize the past, especially the times in which we've never lived, and to think things were pretty close to ideal back then, especially when compared to the modern challenges of today. But the reality is often otherwise.

Every era has its own challenges, of course. I think this is what led the writer of Ecclesiastes to state rather poetically, "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun" (1:9).

I believe it's good to remind ourselves that things are not always as they seem on the surface. A co-worker who comes to work each morning with a smile on their face may very well be struggling in their marriage or might be dealing with a wayward child. The neighbor you happily wave to each day may have just lost a parent or received unfavorable medical test results. That person in line ahead of you at the store or airport could be dealing with a lifetime of hidden pain.

A city of a million people has a million stories, because "... everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

The Christmas season, in all its assumed merriment, can be a challenging time of year for hurts of the heart. So I'd like to encourage you to always make the effort to reach out in kindness -- even if it doesn't seem like it will matter.

Meanwhile, don't forget the context of those words "peace on earth, goodwill to men." They're pivotal in the true story of Christmas. And the world-changing message is this: In a specific place, at a specific time, our Creator stepped into the middle of our human mess with the answer to all our conflicts and troubles. In our limited smallness, we can't fix those things ourselves. But He can. Our role is to point others to Him, and that starts with kindness.

Christmas actually provides us with an opportunity to extend an extra measure of kindness. It doesn't have to be fancy or significant. It's the thought that counts. As the world seems to grow more cold and more coarse with each passing day, a kind response can provide the antidote and balm to help soothe the burns of the world.

So, remember this quote: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

Finally, maybe that someone is YOU. We have a staff of caring people (including licensed counselors) available to listen and help; see FocusOnTheFamily.com or call 800-A-FAMILY (800-232-6459).

May God bless you and your loved ones this Christmas.

Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at www.jimdalyblog.com or at www.facebook.com/DalyFocus.

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Q: We're traveling for Christmas with our two small children; it will be their first airline flight. Do you have any suggestions to make it easier?

Jim: Traveling with little ones can be a challenge, especially at Christmas. My friend Shawna Purvis is a full-time flight attendant for a major airline; her husband, Ryan, is a commercial pilot. Shawna was kind enough to offer some suggestions for this question:

-- Avoid surprises at the airport

Go online prior to packing and check the airline's specific baggage policies. Some airlines exempt military families from baggage fees; others allow car seats and strollers to be checked for free.

-- Dress in layers

Cabin temperature can fluctuate wildly. Layers allow you to shed when you (and the kids) are too hot and bundle up when you're too cold.

-- Plan child-friendly entertainment

A movie or game on your phone or tablet is a good idea (don't forget headphones!). But have a back-up plan. Before the trip, go to a bargain store and buy a toy or two for each hour of travel. Your children will love playing with new toys, and you won't care if the toys accidentally get left behind on the airplane. (Remember to open packages at home; there are no scissors on the plane.)

-- Consider bringing a favorite snack/pillow/blanket

Long gone are the days of airlines providing free pillows, blankets and meals.

-- Prepare for popped-ear pain

Lollipops are good for plugged ears as well as little mouths that won't stop chattering.

-- Manners really do matter

Even if you had a bad experience with TSA or the gate agent, the flight attendant is a different person. If you set a positive tone with them, they'll be more willing to help you out as much as they're allowed.

-- Ease the airport pickup

Picking someone up during the Christmas season can be a hassle. Try meeting your party at the departure area of the airport. The lineup of cars is usually a lot shorter.

Q: My in-laws are coming to our house for Christmas. I'll admit that my relationship with them isn't the best. Do you have any pointers for at least trying to keep the tension to a minimum?

Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries: Even if we don't have difficulties relating to our in-laws, we've probably at least heard stories about a meddling mother-in-law or an obnoxious member of the extended family. No matter how hard we try, we just can't seem to make a connection with these people.

The first thing that comes to mind is a verse written by the Apostle Paul: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18). The only attitude you can control is your own.

I also think of the book, "Loving Your Relatives: Even When You Don't See Eye-to-Eye." The authors recommend embracing a few simple rules of civility. For example:

-- Always remember to smile (and not through gritted teeth). People generally respond better to someone who's smiling.

-- Make sure you're considerate and practice restraint. Never raise your voice.

-- Have the courage to admit when you're wrong, and never ridicule or demean the other person.

-- Try to see things from their perspective.

-- Be accepting and understanding of your in-laws' shortcomings -- and recognize that you have your own faults and hang-ups as well.

These are good rules to keep in mind when dealing with difficult people in any situation, not just your in-laws. But they're especially important in a situation like this Christmas when you're "stuck" with people you'd perhaps rather avoid.

No matter how frustrating things get, remember to be civil. It just might start to thaw the ice between you and your in-laws.

Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at www.jimdalyblog.com or at www.facebook.com/DalyFocus.

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