In the few weeks before my first child was born, I felt life was spinning so fast I couldn’t catch my breath. I was working until late in the pregnancy, juggling two close family weddings and hosting house guests. Despite my exhaustion, I thought I could keep going.
In the few weeks before my first child was born, I felt life was spinning so fast I couldn’t catch my breath. I was working until late in the pregnancy, juggling two close family weddings and hosting house guests. Despite my exhaustion, I thought I could keep going.
And then the baby came. My life felt upside-down - a blur of nappies, sleepless nights, and new routines. I tried to carry on as though nothing had changed—taking part in all the things I thought I should be doing.
Until the Health Visitor came to check on me. As she watched the chaos unfold, she gently said to me: “Every now and then, it’s time to jump off the roundabout of life. Now looks like one of those times.” Her words were a gift. They gave me permission to pause. To slow down, to focus on me and my baby, and prepare together for our times ahead.
Reflecting on those first weeks, when I felt utterly overwhelmed, unsure how to balance my new reality, makes me think of Mary, mother of Jesus. Mary is honoured in both the Bible and the Qur’an, the book Muslims turn to for guidance. The Qur’an tells how Mary was overwhelmed by the weight of giving birth to Jesus and withdrew to a quiet place. In her stillness, God told her to rest and refresh herself, and provided her with water and nourishment. That pause gave her the strength to face what came next.
That rhythm of rest and preparation mirrors the seasons. As winter approaches, the days are shorter, trees stand bare, and seeds lie buried in frozen ground. Yet beneath that stillness, nature is quietly preparing for spring. It is the cold weather which triggers changes in seeds, getting them ready to germinate. Dormancy isn’t wasted time: it’s hidden activity that ensures survival and flourishing when the moment comes.
It took me a while to see that slowing down isn’t giving up; it’s preparation for what lies ahead. So, as this winter approaches, I’m trying not to resist the stillness. Instead, I’m embracing it. And when I see the frantic life of my now-grown daughter, I find myself passing on the wisdom of my Health Visitor. Maybe she’ll get it one day—perhaps when her own child arrives and turns her world upside-down.
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