At my last clinic session, I examined a term pregnancy patient who had been following up with me for 9 months! While I assessed she had not gone in labor and on examination her cervix was far from favourable, I made my clinical judgement and advised the patient and her husband to come for an induction of labor on the following week.
While I discussed the mode of induction and its implications and complications with them both, I mentioned like usual to come with preparations for the admission and delivery. As I asked them if they had any doubts , the husband asked me a question that I was taken aback, ” Doctor, what do you mean by preparations exactly? What should I be getting along when I come for the admission next week?”Never had any patient asked me this before, it was always my assumption that the patients mother or mother in law or some family member who had gone through this before would guide them about the same. Yes I do regret I had never given this part of my service much thought. So I sat him down and explained to him about need for a change of clothes, babys clothes, toiletries and of course the spare change!
While he left my clinic that day, I was left pondering on my lack of concern about the basic details but the fact that we always assume the very same about our ” preparation for christmas” While handing the mistletoe, lighting up the house and decorating the christmas tree does seem some part of the preparations, we often like always forget the one we need to within our hearts. While the vaccine for covid 19 has led us all to look forward to this season with hope and anticipation, to fight the pandemic and yearn for a better and near normal new year 2021. In our hearts and souls we still have not prepared!! I have definitely not prepared, while I got so caught up with moving my life back home and anxiety of a new place is creeping in me, I keep forgetting to say:
O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!
This advent, let us keep our faith in the humilty of our Lord, who was born simply in a manger with the minimalist preparation for a normal delivery I can think of !!! NO midwife or obstetrician, no continous fetal heart rate monitoring, no one qualified to check if Mother Mary was stable post nataly but the shepherds and cattle ( a major source of sepsis!!!) The immense faith that St Joseph and Mother Mary had in such a vulnerable moment, with the constant support of the Holy Spirit and Lord.
While being prepared is an important aspect in our faith and the journey to the Lord, let us cast our burdens and anxiety onto the Lord this year as we visit Him at the manger. Let us like the Kings of Orient, wear our masks and keep social distance, and wrap our worries of finance, stress, health and faithlessness and set it at the foot of the baby Jesus in the manger while we watch him coo as Mother Mary looks upon us tenderly. Let us hold onto her cloak for support and constant effort in our journey to Heaven while she watches over her newborn and us alike!!
This advent, let us just surrender ourselves– past, sins, good deeds, health, the pandemic, environment and above all our hearts at the feet of this little baby and praise Him and Glorify His heavenly Father. Let us prepare to have more trust in the Lord than before and walk in faith to the new year!
PRAYER:
As I stand at your feet oh Lord JEsus, As I bow my head to you oh my Lord, bless me with more faith and trust in your plans for my life and help me stay under your care. Guide me Mother Mary to follow your son and help me out with your maternal nudge to a path of goodness! BLess me St Joseph with the serenity that you displayed in a situation of your sons birth!
Bless me Lord. Show me the way.
AMEN.
