Bliss

An unusual Patient

"If you want to enjoy life and wish to see good times, you must keep from speaking evil and stop telling lies. You must turn away from evil and do good, you must strive for peace with all your heart" 1st Peter 3:10-11(GNB).

I read and reread the scripture all over again, then proceeded to read from the living Bible translation. "If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Try to live in peace even if you must run after it to catch and hold it".

I so yearned to live the good life, not having any blue days and/or mood swings but it looked impossible, though I'm naturally not someone to give up easily. This scripture was showing me how and I didn't fall short of the requirements for living a blissful life but my life was far from being blissful. I'm a paediatrician at the Faith Clinic, about 10 minutes drive away from my house and I love my job, it's the only thing I can say I find fulfillment in though I know God can make me happier than my job does, I didn't know how and I was looking for someone who could show me. I spent most of my time at the hospital, if I wasn't on duty, I'd go to the hospital's shelter to take care of little Sharon, she was brought there as a new born baby. I wonder what mother could leave her day old baby behind after putting to birth. Sharon is a special child, she was born malnourished and the doctors gave her few weeks to live but she's a fighter and she pulled through. I wished I could adopt her but it was quite difficult for a single woman like me to be granted custody of a baby, so for the time being, I took care of her in any way I could as she continued to live in the shelter.

"Dr. Thompson...yes, Mary, what is it?...you have a patient waiting to see you...okay, let the person in...actually, it's a little boy but he's here with his dad...no problem, both of them can come in...okay Doc" So Mary is a nurse who assists me at the paediatrics department in the hospital. A small boy walked in and I fell in love with him just upon seeing him, like it happened to me with little Sharon. "Hello champ, how are you?...I am fine and you?...I'm good my darling, what brings you here?...daddy says I am not well...okay, where's daddy?...he's outside" I was wondering why the boy came in alone so I went out of my consulting room to check if I could see his dad and spotted a gentleman who was walking towards me.

"You must be Dr. Thompson...I sure am...nice to meet you" he stretched forth his hands to shake mine and I gladly accepted
"Same here...sorry for the delay, I had to make enquiries about the bills...no problem, let's go inside..." we both heard a noise and rushed to my consulting room to see the cute little boy standing amidst a broken picture frame, apparently he was trying to take it from my table to look at the picture when it fell accidentally

"Jayden, what have you done?...please take it easy Sir, it's just an accident...I told him not to touch anyone's thing without asking for permission...don't worry, it's fine, I'll just ask the cleaners to tidy up this place...I'm so sorry doctor...it's okay Sir, I can get it framed up again...please let me take the cost for that, I know someone who can do it...oh no, it's fine Sir_really...please, just let me...hmm, okay if you insist... I insist...thank you...that's a lovely photo you have there...thank you. So what's wrong with the champ?...he's been feeling pains in his jaw and sometimes he's not able to really chew anything solid, I figured it's his tooth but wanted to be sure...let me have a look...sure, come on J.J" He thought I would scold him so he hid behind his dad "J.J, Aunty is not angry, say you're sorry" he came towards me and apologised and I couldn't help but give him a hug "Oh my God, he's burning up, please help me put him on the stretcher there..." his dad quickly laid him down and I checked his heart beat, it was normal, I checked his eyes for any signs but they looked okay, so I just checked his tooth and noticed his new tooth was forming. I gave him a pain reliever there and then and recommended some other medications and ointments that helped children who had that issue.

"He's just running a temperature because of the pain but he should be okay in a few hours and with regards to his teeth, just get the prescription I scribbled for you, plus the new toothpaste I recommended. It will help his gum grow stronger to be able to hold his tooth...okay doctor, thank you very much...you're welcome and you can call me Vivian...Okay Vivian, I'm Greg...nice to meet you...same here, I'll pass by and drop your frame when it's ready...sure, no problem...hey J.J, say bye to Aunty... bye bye Aunty Vivian... wow, you caught my name fast, you're a smart kid. Bye my darling, remember to be a good boy...okay...thank you again Vivian, see you some other time".