When someone gives you a gift--you can say "Thank you" or not. Acknowledge or not. Give it away without using it or think of the time spent and the love putting the gift together. It is all up to you.
We control our reactions and put them to play all for the glory of God. A smile or a frown, a murmuring or silence, a gossip or kind words, energy or slothfulness. It is all up to us as to how we respond to our situations. And at the end of the day we can examine our consciences and determine what we need to work on. We have many choices how to behave.
One rotten apple can ruin it for all. I can be that rotten apple and many times I am. How can I be nourished by Him when my words, my thoughts and the songs of my tongue are corrupting me and those around me?
We can praise by deeds, words, song and behavior. St Ephrem, our saint of the day, had such sweetness and efficiency of words.
St Ephrem was a gifted and prolific writer who composed beautiful songs and poetry to the Lord. He was known as the poet, teacher, orator, and defender of the faith. Ephrem is the only Syriac Christian recognized as a doctor of the Church. He opposed the many false doctrines of his time, always remaining a true and forceful defender of the Catholic Church. He was a deacon, living an austere life. He is a Doctor of the Church.
Ephrem became one of the first to introduce song into the Church’s public worship as a means of instruction for the faithful. His many hymns have earned him the title “Harp of the Holy Spirit.” (Franciscan Media)
Prayer: Oh, Lord, my creator and master of my life. Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust, seeking of power and idle talk. Give me, rather, the Spirit of thanksgiving, humility, patience with love and praise of the Lord.
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