Eliana and I went to the hospital the other day. At most hospitals here, things are different than I am used to seeing. The doctors get bogged down in paperwork, and so they work hard to try to keep up. In the U.S., most places have a staff that does that for them.

We were needing a document from a doctor, and we did not have an appointment, but since we were already at the hospital, Eliana asked the doctor if she could get that document from him real quick. He said no, because he was really busy with paperwork, and with those that had appointments. I think he had a lot of stress, and was not in a good mood. That was really frustrating, and the trip to the hospital is not easy, especially for Eliana since she is almost 8 1/2 months pregnant. I wanted to say something to the doctor, and tell him that he is wrong for not taking the time to help Eliana, but I didn´t, and I am glad now. I got to thinking about it, and I know he probably has a lot of people that don´t have appointments come and ask him for things, and he has to tell them no, because he has so much to do.

Anyways, yesterday, Eliana and I had to return to the hospital again because she had a class. It is all pregnant women in the class and no fathers, and so I wait in the waiting room. After that, we were still needing that document, but didn´t have an appointment. Eliana again asked the doctor if he could give her that document, and today I think he was caught up on a lot of his paperwork, and so he did not have that stress. He helped Eliana, and we got what we needed. Eliana had gotten him a candy bar to thank him for his help. I said that it was not really necessary to give that to him, he is just doing his job. Finally I caught myself, and knew that my advice probably wasn´t good, and so I didn´t discourage her anymore from giving him the candy bar.

Eliana gave him the candy bar, and she said that he was really surprised, and said thank you. I imagine that he never has patients that do that for him, and so that may just have made his day. So what did I learn from that? Be patient. If we are quick to become angry, we will probably do something that we will regret later. And the love that Christ has shown to us, be quick to show that to others.

P.S., our bag is packed, and we are ready to go to the hospital when Eliana goes into labor. I was not sure if I would be able to be in the delivery room with Eliana, but a doctor said that I will be able to.