Your family's plans are probably full of tradition, developed and passed down through the years. Most families develop comfortable holiday habits, and follow them year after year. Rarely is anyone surprised, not even Santa Claus, as he makes his way down your chimney and to your tree, planting toys and goodies in exactly the same manner, each Christmas Eve.

We find comfort in our traditions, so the repetition is something we look forward to, with anticipation. Perhaps the only drawback to repeating the same observances in the same way, each year, is the fact that, occasionally it means that memories can become a bit jumbled in our minds. Adults, especially, have a hard time remembering which year was which, which Christmas yieled the computer, and which one was the year of Mom's new oven.

Here's something you might try. Your family and its traditions are special and meaningful to you, so why not invite someone into your circle, this year, who may not be able to spend the holidays with family and loved ones? Your family's holiday could be the perfect cure for someone else's loneliness.

There are many folks, these days, who find themselves away from home during the holidays, for reasons of business or education. Universities have many academic courses that require students or faculty to stay close to campus, even over the Christmas break, preventing them from getting home, out of state.

Many hospitals have interns and residents who must remain nearby and on-call, during the holidays, whose families are far away. Your church might be one which employs an intern pastor, whose duties require remaining closeby, through the Advent observances.

Sharing your family's celebrations with someone who otherwise would be alone requires proactive effort on your part. The chances of a stranger approaching you and asking to join your family for Christmas are fairly small. Just thinking about what they're missing at home is enough to prevent most people from intruding on your privacy.

If you do manage to find someone who needs a surrogate family, over the holidays, you need not change your family's traditions to accommodate the new party. Part of what you've chosen to share with them is the comfort your family finds in its own habits. Sharing your holidays can be enriching for all concerned, and can help to keep each year's celebration completely unique.