In the saints and in their stories, we easily recognize aspects of ourselves and our lives. The saints struggle with the same human limitations and frailties which all of us must acknowledge. For this reason, many Christians venerate the saints and ask for their friendly intercession before God's throne during especially challenging times. Moreover, many of us are named after a saint at birth or take on a particular saint's name in baptism or confirmation. Giving the gift of a plaque or statue of a saint to celebrate baptism or confirmation not only honors the occasion but also encourages and reminds us that we too have the God-given potential and vocation to become, as they did, a mirror of God's infinite love and compassion in this broken and suffering world.