Read: Matthew 25:31-46; Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. Luke 9:48

Mother Teresa of Calcutta gave a helping hand to Jesus through the people she helped. She would pray, "Dearest Lord, may I see You today and every day in the person who is sick, and whilst nursing them may I 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'." I often think of this prayer when I encounter a demanding patient or a difficult family member. It helps me to recognize that I am caring for Jesus Himself. My irritation subsides, and I remember to forgive as I have been forgiven.

Of course this applies to more situations than just the hospital or medical office. We should serve all fellow believers with humility and generosity. However, by some strange quirk in our fallen nature, it sometimes seems much more difficult to care for and serve our Christian colleagues than to serve a poor stranger. We are so afraid of being "taken advantage of." Perhaps it would be helpful if we changed Mother Teresa's prayer slightly and prayed: "Jesus, my Christian friend, how sweet it is to serve you!" This attitude of heart would prevent or resolve many conflicts in which we find ourselves.

Prayer: Jesus, may I see you in my patients everyday so that I may show the type of love You would like me to show to the people I deal with.

Further reading: Luke 13:10-17