Have you ever tried to get a toddler to share? It’s impossible. The toddler mind simply cannot comprehend intangible virtues or the feelings of others. You can have timed turns, reward behaviors, or have equally interesting distractions for all parties, but a toddler cannot grasp the abstract ideas of generosity, agape, and humility.

Yet, our entire life as mothers comes down to this one thing: to teach our children that abstract things are more important than material things. Following that, we have to give them the knowledge that there is an entire existence beyond this world waiting for us after death.

As Saint Paul says in the second reading in the letter to Colossians, Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. And later he writes, Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is Idolatry. St. Paul describes a daily struggle, at least for me. Today, we hear more on this topic when St. Luke records the words of our Lord, ‘Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.’

Then Jesus tells us a story—the story of the man who was rich, who built new barns for all of his things and suddenly died. Jesus tells us, But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.

What matters to God; not the treasure for ourselves. Not things.

Our life does not consist of possessions, yet we are mortal, trapped in physical bodies with physical needs and eyes. We all have eyes, to see, to compare, to want, to covet.

I know that what makes me happy are the things I cannot see, but I fall for the trap over and over, like a toddler who does not share.

I taught first grade online during COVID. A challenging part of the year was teaching such young children to believe in things they cannot see, specifically grace. We made a list of things that we know exist but that we cannot see—things like electricity, wind, gravity, heat, love, safety, fear, ideas, emotions, God, grace.

Grace is the key. We cannot do this great task of raising children, living a vocation, keeping a home, loving a husband, alone. It’s impossible. Only by God’s grace can we attempt this great mission. Only by this intangible, invisible, super power from God can we have any chance at success.

If my children see me fail at modeling virtues—and they do see me; they always know—I hope they can also see me striving for grace—in line at confession, praying, seeking out sacraments, and trying over and over again, until my race is won. 

This alone is what matters to God.