Thursday 19th May 2022

“I have told you this so that
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete.”

As a doctor, every patient enters my clinic has to follow a set of rules , or we call it an implied consent.. the woman will cooperate with the nursing staff as she is set up for examination or an ultrasonography scan or any minor procedure. The patient will undress and done the outfit and lie down in the position comfortable for examination all with implied consent that she is willing for the same! She will follow the doctors prescription after the exam – which may include tests and medications! However if we do not follow the same instructions at home or take medications, no amount of doctor visits can sort our issues !

The doctor for our soul is Jesus, we visit Him every day or mostly every Sunday like me, take His body and blood there and leave to get back on with our lives — BUSY! yes .. my last week was overwhelming after a very long time! I even forgot to publish my reflection and realised it late thursday morning as I sat beside my dads chemotherapy bed ! too late , I apologise!

I often let life get the better of me , I stress over my patients results and somedays worry if I will get called at night when I have cozied up my bed for a nice tuck in after a tiring day! Im trying to prepare for exams which havent been announced and adjusting my appointments and work around them. I always feel I have not done enough and regret the time I relaxed months ago when I should have been hustling at my work! I often regret my choices only to realise life is coming to a full circle to exactly where I am!

Often in this chaos I dont pray with effort, I just switch off the lights, walk to my bed as I sign the cross and lay in bed wondering .. wow the day just flew by God! Life is really fast! And as I fall asleep counting things I wish i could have accomplished , I never really feel satisfied !

Today the Gospel made me think, why am I hustling so much if I dont find the joy in what I do? Why am I running ahead of my thinking and time when I have not lived every minute today with the Joy my Lord brings to me? Maybe I need to re adjust and focus my life and make decisions which benefit my soul not just monetary and egoistic reasons! Often I wonder why everyone promotes hustle culture and when I ask refuse a job when I am exhausted or not ready , I feel so guilty!

Joy is complete not in our daily tasks or the results of an exam or the management of a patients issues! It is in finding the Lord in my daily routine – as a prayer in my car at the traffic signal or the minutes I get before I let my first patient in my office or the fact that I am trying my best with the commandments at my daily life!

I just hope we find Joy more often then we perceive …

PRAYER:

Thank you Lord for accepting us the way we are, with good and bad! Guide me to seek the eternal Joy in you and not earthly issues and not fret and be anxious when things dont go my way! Bless me with the joy in my heart for your love!

AMEN

About the Author

Hello! I’m Dr Analise Maria D’ Mello, (MBBS, MS obgyn, DNB) from the beautiful state of Goa in India. I was born and raised in a Roman Catholic family, learning my prayers, catechism and Catholic values from my parents and grandmothers. I am currently practicing as an obstetrician and gynecologist for 3 years since my residency. I often speak on anti-abortion to college students and married couples, and counsel distressed pregnant women with appropriate medical advice. I am part of the St Luke's Medical Guild of Catholic Doctors in my state providing services in prisons, and Lenten and advent retreats for medical professionals and their families.

Author Archive Page

17 Comments

  1. I love how you live your life in such a human way. We are human. We need our God and thanks for sharing you. I can be me.

  3. Lord help me to make you the center of my life ,so that I can find joy in you.

    Thank you Annalise.

  4. Thank you Analise. Our lifestyles and ambitions often drive ourselves to the edge. Time ticks on as we attempt to fill every moment with tasks and accomplishments. Jesus understands this. Can we carve out a piece of our lives to remain in him. He would enjoy that if we so desire. Peace my sister.

  5. Dr. Analise, thank you for your post. I too struggle with anxiety with work demands and the hustle culture that encourages us to be human-doings instead of human beings. I know that Jesus gives our manna for the day. We can’t save the manna for tomorrow as He will provide it for tomorrow’s needs.

  6. Dear Analise, God sees all the good work you do and the devotion you have for your father, and He knows that you love Him. You are very busy doing good work, and your conscious mind doesn’t have to tell Him you love Him. He knows. I want to thank you for taking the time to write a weekly reflection for us, the readers of A Catholic Moment. You inspire me, a 79-year-old grandmother who regrets forgetting about God when my children were babies and needed my attention 24/7. You are certainly forgiven for forgetting to post a reflection last week. I’m just glad to hear from you this week. May God bless you in your work.

  8. I did miss your post last week. I always enjoy your message as it is very relatable. Today’s hit that mark again…it has reminded me, again, to just breathe and keep believing.

  9. I’m glad you’re well also and pray for your dad as I try too pray for all CM readers will express prayer needs. I hope you f
    Find joy in all the eyes you look into.

  10. Thank you Analise. Your struggles are my struggles and everyone else’s struggles. Keep up the good fight! Whatever we go through in life, Jesus understands. God be with you.

  11. Thanks; that was beautiful. At least we can do our best to derive joy in every moment of our lives; it takes effort but in time it will hopefully become a habit. I hope it becomes mine some day.

  12. Analise thank you for sharing yourself with us.
    Prayers for your Father. He is so blessed to have you.
    My Mother had 12 children. In her busiest times she said that the morning offering was all she was able to give God….in old age (we had her a blessed 96 years) she gave God her complete self. God understands. There is a season and your life is a prayer. May God continue to use you for His Glory and heal your Father and bless your family. Keep up the good work Doctor.

  13. Analise,
    Thank you for your time and effort to write a reflection (and all the other writters) every week.
    God has gifted you in so many ways.

  14. I’m exhausted just reading about your hectic schedule Analise.I too,was concerned about your absence last week and it’s good to read your reflection.
    Life’s challenges and demands can be overwhelming at times.By keeping God in your heart and turning to him, even for a moment during your busy day will reap it’s own rewards.
    God Bless you on your faith journey.

  15. I’m concerned you are taking on too much. Perhaps you should take a break from these reflections until your life settles. Doing too much can leave you drained and harried, leaving you susceptible to Satan’s doings. Take care of yourself.

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