Daily Prayer

Mother Teresa prayed this prayer daily for the Children's Home she began. I read it and realized that I care for children...my 2 kids...as she cared for many of the sick and orphaned children in her sphere of influence. In light of this, I was blessed to pray this prayer to regain focus in what God has called me to do with my own kids. In place of the "sick" or "my patient", I read this prayer inserting "my children". It is easy to become short-sighted in parenting. I get easily tossed about by grumpy moods, sibling rivalries, being awakend during the night, constantly picking-up, and such that I lose sight of the long-term goal. I want to exhibit Christ so that they may be drawn to Him. Here is a great prayer to help refocus not only for parenting but for what specific task God has given you.

"Daily Prayer--Jesus My Patient"

Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day in the person of your sick, and, whilst nursing them, minister unto you.

Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you, and say: 'Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you.'

Lord, give me this seeing faith, then my work will never be monotonous. I will ever find joy in humouring the fancies and gratifying the wishes of all poor sufferers.

O beloved sick, how doubly dear you are to me, when you personify Christ; and what a privilege is mine to be allowed to tend to you.

Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience.

And O God, while you are Jesus, my patient, deign also to be to me a patient Jesus, bearing with my faults, looking only to my intention, which is to love and serve you in the person of each of your sick.

Lord, increase my faith, bless my efforts and work, now and for evermore.

Amen.