I remember my Mother giving me parenting advice when I was a young mother with toddlers. She told me that I should praise the behaviors I want to see more of in my kids. Even if my toddler son was not great at sharing, the moment that he shared a toy with his sister, my Mother would praise him by saying, “Luke, I am so thankful that you shared that toy with your sister so nicely.”

The first reading today sort of reminds me of this. I wonder if the Ephesians maybe weren’t the best at having faith in the Lord Jesus and maybe they occasionally had trouble loving the “holy ones.” Maybe Saint Paul recognized this which is why he is praying for them to have a spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. I can almost hear St. Paul thinking to himself, “Lord, can you give them a little help? They are NOT getting the concept of faith and love.” St. Paul’s offer of thanksgiving could almost be him praising the behaviors he is wanting to see more of in the Ephesians.

After two hurricanes, devastation all around us, no power for days, and all sorts of stress, I am not that great at having faith and loving the holy ones either. But I am putting one step in front of the other, and I am doing my best. My hope is that I will have at least one moment during these next few days and weeks that my heavenly Father can witness and then encourage me in the right direction.

In the aftermath of the Hurricanes what is ONE thing that you can do for someone else for which our heavenly Father would give thanks?

Thank you Lord for offering me a spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. Amen.