The little boy came up to Sr. Michelle on the playground and asked, “Sister, could you say a prayer for me?” She said, “I certainly will, Alex,” and then she asked, “Is anything wrong?” “No,” he said cheerfully. “I just thought it would be cool if you talked to God about me.”

At the Last Supper, the disciples hear Jesus talking to God about them. Imagine how they must have felt when he said, “Father, these disciples here are your gift to me.” What a compliment! What an affirmation! Despite his disciples’ imperfections, mistakes and density at times, Jesus still sees them as the Father’s gift to him.

Are there individuals in our lives whom we recognize as God’s gift to us—a loving spouse, our children, an old friend, a close sibling, a special colleague, a charming grandchild? Do we thank God regularly for these individuals? Do we ever let them know we talk to God about them?

- Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.