Thessalonians 3:1-13 Ask someone you admire to tell you about why they are the way they are. At the end of the day, remember them in your prayers with thanksgiving.

Now, today, I also knew the readings all day - and knew the theme too. And, while I did not SPECIFICALLY ask anyone today these specific questions, it has been a joy having my mom and dad visiting this week. I am so glad they are here to see Alexa play basketball and to hear Alexa and Anna play in the Winter Concert at OPS! They usually come in November, and are home in CA by the time these things happen. Although it is colder for them, I am glad they are here "off-season." And I admire my parents a lot. Through talking with them over the years, I pretty much know why they are the way they are. I think my Grandpop Bechtel imbued his love of nature and the outdoors to my mom. I think my dad's foster parents' loving care helped make him into the loving father and grandfather that he is. And I think my dad's father, Paul Sherr, was competitive and that made my dad like to win (I mean everyone likes to win but my dad and I are pretty competitive  ). So I think I know why they are the way they are and, thus, know why _I_ am the way _I_ am - I do say a prayer of thanksgiving tonight (and most every night) for my family and my luck to have been born into this great family. That is luck (and yes, privilege) for which I will ever be grateful.