So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
Forgiveness is the essence of being a christian and it is very hard a virtue to master. While forgetting is easier and pushing a memory to the backburner only to relive all the emotions when we encounter the person, place or event.
The story of a volunteer asking Mother Theresa how he can help the poor and all she said was ” start with your home and family!” The forgiveness we give strangers is so easy cause they dont know us , our minds or our past, they have nothing to judge us on and vice versa but when we step forward to help someone we know it always leads to a chain of thoughts of how and when did they do the same or some evil act that we have harbored in our heart , done unto us by them at a past date!
Despite all this I personally am a firm believer of not letting people walk all over you especially in this day and age. I have experienced it first hand at work when there are friends and family who assume I am supposed to be available for free medical advice at their beck and call. While I initially did it with a good heart, it got and still gets to a point where there is no line of discrimination between professional and personal life.
From untimely calls and messages on my personal contact number to constant queries to crosscheck another doctors advice. Trying to escape from meeting a doctor in person by asking me questions telephonically and even expecting me to set up appointments and contacts with other departments! I had enough of being pushed over and abused in name of friendship and family.
I believe in forgiveness but I cannot forget good or bad deeds. Yes I am not perfect and very well know how everyone suddenly remembers me when they want to cut across the line to a doctor or get a medical test done urgently or sunday prescription and I absolutely dislike the abuse of the same! I do forgive when I realise the hate is more than the mere dislike and assumption that I will help especially when the person skips medical advice from other doctors too!
Today let us all vow to forgive and be less judgemental and more open with our forgiveness in receiving and in giving and try to be less skeptical about intentions and ulterior motives of others and focus on being better humans! It is a hard task especially when you have been taken for granted many times but we have to try to use our faith to task!!
PRAYER!
Dearest lord, help me to step forward and help the needy we=hen required with no ulterior motive and forgive those who have taken our goodness for granted! enlighten us to use this faith for betterment of society and spread our 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.
