Thursday 17th November 2022

For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.

The last week as I stopped at a traffic light, I was suprised to see a woman holding an asleep child in her arms knock at my car window. Not an uncommon feature in my country, but my state was immune to it until recently. Knowing about the nexus of begging women and children in tow, I decided to turn away and ignore her. Soon she moved on to another car!

Often I wonder when I see this, am I privileged that I have the opportunities I have to education, a home, faith and just everything! Often it pricks me , have I ignored Jesus, I will be burning in hell over this lady!!!!!!!! I am being extremely honest, I am no saint, I am learning to say no and give people a mouthful of information of what needs to be heard especially when they assume it is my duty to be good and honest! I am just learning to say no and avoid people who drain me — it is hard when I am brought up by the most generous parents and family while I feel like a grump wondering why I have to be helping everyone all the time and no one ever makes efforts the opposite way anymore especially professionally!!!!!

I was reading about Saint Elizabeth of Hungary who we celebrate today and realised she was one such generous saint with the sick and needy especially when she was so young and been through so much ! I am not the most ideal doctor with a comforting face and I know sometime or more often then I want I mite have said something not nice to say especially when I have a bad day or lack of sleep or mostly just hangry but the genetic generosity crops up and I either make up for it later or apologise ! However I do realise most often I end up being taken for granted instead for being niceand then there is a constant conflict on ” did I just tell Jesus to do the job himself? Will I be in hell for this?”

I know we all have our flaws and no one is perfect at all times, I am working on counting to 10 when I am annoyed at something, small adversities which may appear inconvenient and annoying but often or not it works out for the best! Let us not skip Jesus during our daily decisions but also let us learn to stand and defend ourselves when we know we can be

PRAYER:

Lord, I surrender all the times I feel uncomfortable and taken for granted , help me to find that spark of generosity and see you in those moments and be the best of myself!

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

16 Comments

  1. Sometimes I forget that Christ comes in the form of the beggar, not literally a beggar but person(s) we meet. While tending the Cathedral giftshop, I had the picture of Christ on the bench as a homeless beggar begging for attention, food, a listening ear serving as a reminder. Christ still walks the earth and speaks and make demands through the most destitute, penniless, disheveled, stinking alcohol breath.
    Quite literally, every person– no matter who they are – is JESUS.
    A lesson I learned through my six years in the church’s giftshop. It became Christ’s urgent care.

  2. This reflection made me think of St. Mother Teresa. She was able to lead a disciplined life while tending to the poor, the sick and the dying.

  4. Thank you Analise. Jesus is never far…knocking on the window or standing over a patient. Taking the time and having the mindset to recognize Him is our gift of faith. We all mess up and need to apologize for our mistakes…amazing to think He always stands at the door of forgiveness. Blessing my sister…and keep counting to ten.

  5. Analise,

    I appreciate your honesty so much. I struggle in many of the same ways as you. I know what Jesus expects of me and I want to please him, but so often my petty irritations get in the way. Even though I am retired, I am always on the go and long for that quiet stillness when I can listen for and hear His voice.

  6. My father (and probably his father before him) used to keep a banana on the dash of his car whenever he’d drive anywhere. As a kid I can still see the banana, and I often wondered why he liked bananas so much. One day at a stoplight he gave it to a man with a homeade sign. My dad really did like bananas…and most of the time he would eat it for his snack. But it was also a handy way of giving something to someone who might be hungry, instead of giving them money that might feed an unhealthy addiction. Once he saw one man literally chuck it behind him in disgust. But it didn’t matter to my dad. Despite his faults, this has always stuck with me. Thanks for your honesty, Analise. The “have I done enough?” question plagues us all.

  7. Don’t beat yourself up for ignoring the poor. We can’t help every poor person we see, but we can help some. Jesus said that the poor would always be with us. If we don’t give them money or food sometimes, we can always say a prayer for them in the moment.

  8. My father (and probably his father before him) used to keep a banana on the dash of his car whenever he’d drive anywhere. As a kid I can still see the banana, and I often wondered why he liked bananas so much. One day at a stoplight he gave it to a man with a homeade sign. My dad really did like bananas…and most of the time he would eat it for his snack. But it was also a handy way of giving something to someone who might be hungry, instead of giving them money that might feed an unhealthy addiction. Once he saw one man literally chuck it behind him in disgust. But it didn’t matter to my dad. Despite his faults, this has always stuck with me. Thanks for your honesty, Analise. The “have I done enough?” question plagues us all.

  9. I especially liked the line “am I telling Jesus to do it himself?”. I so admire the people who give with an open loving heart. Let’s grow together. There is a song out there called “Break my heart Lord for what breaks Yours”. I long to sing it in it’s full glory all the days of my life.

  10. Dr. Analise, thank you for being human. Daily I must repent. A complaint, a judgment, snapping at my husband. Yelling at God because one more thing went bad on my vehicle. God in His mercy takes me back when I repent and the Holy Spirit helps me to do better. God is merciful and loving. I want to be merciful and loving. By God’s Grace we can! Thank you Jesus for Saving us!

  11. Thank you Dr. Analise for this very honest reflection. We do what we can. More and more, we are seeing beggars standing outside grocery and other stores. Its hard to see and I feel guilty if I don’t provide something when God has blessed me so. As Lynne said, they are all the face of Jesus. In fact Jesus said “the poor will always be with you”.

  12. Thank you Analise,for your honesty.I’m sure that the majority of people reading ACM reflections see themselves in your actions and admitted shortcomings.You are not alone.We are all sinners and require the love and grace of God in order to do better and to respond to his call more fully.It’s easy to become discouraged but by recognising our shortcomings we can strive to do better each time we have an opportunity to help others in need.

  13. Analise, thank for your reflection.
    You are so “human” and are relatable to many of us readers.
    God bless and keep up the good writing.

  14. Thank you Analise. Coming from Africa where there are beggars at every intersection and we were asked by charities not to give to those with children as it encouraged them to bring children, often not their own, out into the hot sun next to busy roads, in order to get more money. So hard to know what to do! If one can find a good charity which really helps children, maybe that is better. Not sure what Jesus would do.

  15. Analise I always look forward to your reflections and this time I will also say your honesty as to your most human emotions is so refreshing…..you make me feel grateful to know I’m not the only one who is torn in two. I’ll try and follow your lead and offer these human shortcomings at the altar of our loving savior.

  16. Ann – ditto for me.

    I sometimes give money. Sometimes not but it is usually accompanied with a nod of recognition. Not sure why some and not others. Wonder if I’m being hypocritical, judgmental or discriminatory.

    Some friends question why I do as well and say they will only use it to get high or why not donate money to a reputable organization.

    In any case, I continue to give and respond to critics and respond that if Jesus wants the money to get high who am I to deny him.

    I’ll leave the judging to someone with a higher pay grade than me- God!

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