Today is the International Day of Families, a day to celebrate this most precious unit of hearts.

"Without a family," said French author Andre Maurois, "Man, alone in the world, trembles in the cold."

Studies at the University of Chicago showed that as long as a family can afford the basics (food, healthcare), having money for life's little luxuries did not make a difference in how a child behaved.

In fact, what really matters are the connections and time spent with your family. As writer Anna Quindlen put it, "Familiarity breeds content."

Today is a good day to further strengthen the bonds of your nuclear and extended family. There is a proven connection between effective parent-child communication and a child's long-term success.

Talk, really talk to each other. Sit down and listen. Try to understand each person's perspective and focus on each person's strengths. Every member of the family matters. Show it: Take the time to hug your child, your parents, your siblings. Share your heart.

As Confucius once said, "To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right."

More FAMILY Quotations

Make your family connections heaven on earth.