Thursday, 7th January 2021 – keeping resolutions!

For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. 
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith

Today I am sitting in my room, at the crack of dawn in freezing cold, ready to get another day of learning about artificial reproductive technology. While the course has been exhaustive and in detail and I watched a human make babies under a microscope or ” in test tube”, I was so swamped that I forgot to even pray daily.. rosary seems a stretch!!!

Yes! my new years resolution has been has gone for a six and so also the stress of travelling and working for 14 hours a day in a subject that constantly reminds me how we humans can act like we are God… Some where along the week I just let go. Until I remembered I have to post and I got a beautiful text from my catholic friend at my sunday youth convention about the same..and as I whined about me having no time …she texted “just pray”

I realised how I had not kept the Lords commandments and that I even ended up missing my online sunday mass.. While life is getting hectic I have pushed my strongest source of energy aside and complain I have non! So when I read the reading to reflect , I felt a pang of guilt that I am not begotten by the God but by the world.. I am just whining about petty issues like the weather or the long hours of training and even my hostel. Today as I sat to type this, I listened to a wonderful video by Bobby Angel on youtube talking about how we give up when we cant be perfect and that was just describing me…So today instead of telling all the readers about my reflection about the reading .. I am going to take the time to pray and dump my worries of perfectionism at his feet and hope all of you who missed their new year resolutions also do the same!

PRAYER:

LOrd, I am sinful and irrational in my behaviour this new year. I have missed my time with you and have disobeyed your commandments. Forgive me Lord for being so overbearing and whiny about everything so far and help me try every day as a new day with you at the centre of my life!!

Mother Mary help me to be a better person and help me forgive those who lead me to temptation and do not let me be better.

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

19 Comments

  1. When I didn’t have a Catholic Moment inbox this AM I thought it is Analise and she has herself overloaded again. Your honesty makes you a better person. At 86 I am in the trilight of my life but have finally learned that my morning prayer time takes priority over everything else. Your faith makes you one of the better commentators on this site. Thank you.

  2. Remember Jesus’ first words to the apostles after His resurrection, after they had so miserably failed Him in the garden – not “How could you!” or “You losers!” but “Peace be with you.” He knows what we are made of and still, always loves us.

  5. I love your honesty and I can so relate to your frustrations in trying and seemly failing to be closer to God. He loves us whether are following his commandments or not. Not one of us is perfect and we all stumble, but He is there reaching out His hand to help us up. As for New Year’s resolutions, I gave them up years ago because I don’t think I ever kept any. May God’s peace fill you in these busy days.

  6. Truth is hard to face but where we find peace. Thank you for sharing your struggles and helping us all start again each day.

  7. Hang in there Analise. Let me assure you that you have done much good in providing your readers with your reflections. I know that I am one whom you have helped. Take heart!

  8. Analise, I think all of us can relate to being so busy (and for me often being so self absorbed) that we put the Lord aside. I was thinking it’s especially important for someone like you who is working in the field of creating life. You need to keep your communication with God open. It’s such a special calling (as it comes with many ethical responsibilities and decisions). In further reflection, I realize we all have a special calling and need to keep that communication with God open. Maybe it’s not as exciting or imminent as yours, but as important to God. None of us are off the hook (… and at least for me, part of my calling is to pray for you! ).

  9. Good morning, happy new year and THANK YOU! We all start out a new year full of intent on making promises of doing so many things….. the majority of us stumble and fall right after sprinting out…. It is so encouraging to read your reflection…. I beat myself up for not doing this or that, but realize I am not the only one. It is our gift from God that the Holy Spirit nudges us and reminds us that we are humans, imperfect, and that our priorities are not always in the right order. Thank you for your honesty and let us keep each other in our prayers that God will guide us in our daily lives and that prayers will always be part of our daily lives, in whatever form….. let us be cognizant the HE LOVES US, TODAY AND ALWAYS!

  10. Dear Analise. Your reflection today and all the comments following it were inspiring to me. I can picture Jesus giving you a big hug and telling you that everything is going to be okay. He understands and he loves you. He loves us all.

  11. Dear Analise,
    Welcome aboard the “pity train”.
    I can’t imagine you having to study (artificial reproduction) something that you are totally against.
    I can’t imagine one day goes by that I don’t have several “worldly” thoughts racing threw my mind.
    I’m trying to get over an election stupor myself – I need a break from all this madness.
    I’m humbled and impressed with
    your openness and humility.
    God bless you.

  15. I love the surrender novena!
    This was a great reflection and one that I really needed to hear. Thanks so much doc

  16. Analise, I dare to say as a Doctor you need to pray before you do anything else in your day. You hold lives in your hands! Even a quick prayer of ‘Jesus help me today’ Would be so beneficial to you and the mothers and babies. Prayer does not have to be long, or what someone else wrote. It is simply talking to God in your own way and your own words. God Bless You, now and always. Marguerite

  17. Worry is heavy. Please give it up…to Him. Then go about your work, your calling, with a joyful heart.

  18. Funny I didn’t do my morning reflections yesterday and am now just reading this on Friday! I guess we’re all in the same boat at times! Praying for you and asking God for strength to stay focused on prayer and His Word!

  19. Dr. Analise,
    Thank you for your weekly posts. May God bless you in the New Year. I am a retired physician and understand the struggles to live a Catholic life in the medical world. I wish I had known about the Catholic Medical Association when I was practicing, where I could have had peer support of my beliefs. They have a very good weekly podcast. A recent one was about Infertility, Pregnancy Loss, and Treatment Hope, linked below. It provided a Catholic perspective on IVF technology.
    https://soundcloud.com/user-546435917/dd-187-infertility-pregnancy-loss-and-treatment-hope

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