Every night, before my 2-year old daughter goes to sleep, my wife asks Maya to kiss me, say goodnight and “I love you.” Maya dutifully puckers up her lips as I lean down to kiss her. She says, “Goodnight, daddy” and “I love you, daddy.” If she resists, my wife would not go to bed with her until Maya gives in.
I know that my little daughter is obeying her mother so she’ll get to snuggle with her and slip into her toddler dreams. I pray that one day, Maya will voluntarily kiss me and say “I love you” and genuinely feel that for her father. In the meantime, I am happy just to be her dad.
Then it dawned on me that the Church teaches me to pray and love my Heavenly Father, just like Maya’s mother teaches her to say “I love you” and kiss her earthly father. The Church likewise hopes that I will pray with genuine feeling and show my love to God by loving my neighbor.
Dear Holy Spirit, I did not come to this piece of wisdom on my own. I thank you for working in me. Please continue to guide me in this life and grant me the grace to grow in the virtues. I humbly ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.