Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day

In the presence of your sick ones,

and while I am nursing them

may I minister unto you.

Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise

of the irritable, the exacting, and the unreasonable,

may I still recognise 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,

and I will find joy in humouring

the idiosyncrasies and gratifying the wishes

of all poor sufferers.

Amen.

• Attributed to Mother Teresa