“Sometimes, our new beginnings have been yearned for. We have chosen them. Others lie in wait and burst upon us like bad weather or unwelcome beasts. Little wonder that we cling to what is certain. Home, the hearth. The family born or found. Places where no storms land, and we think no winds can blow.”

Episode 8 was our finale of Season 15. 

Thank you, Call the Midwife, for another season of meaningful stories and lessons along the way. It is truly like traveling a life path with them. And to end our season on Mother’s Day seemed poignant. I had smiles, tears, and an intense feeling of nostalgia — like when you know you will not see family again for a while.

We had a wedding with Rosalind and Cyril; a birth (Belinda); a gallbladder operation (Rhoda); a strategic business move with Trixie purchasing a 55% ownership stake in the Lady Emily Clinic after her mother-in-law, Lavinia, passes away, and this opened up the Aylward estate. 

We see Beryl (Sister Veronica) return to her vows of living her life as a nun. We witness new technologies with Susan getting a motorized wheelchair and Rosalind having the very first ultrasound in Poplar. 

Dr. Patrick Turner and Shelagh will continue with their GP clinic and wait for what unfolds with the nuns of Nonnatus House. Phyllis and Miss Higgins will continue to faithfully work alongside Dr. Turner. 

The nuns (Sister Julienne, Sister Veronica, and Sister Catherine) will make medical missions abroad as their long-term future unfolds or is determined. There are three locations for their missions, which are Gilbert and Ellice Islands, British Columbia, and a remote part of Australia. 

And Sister Monica Joan leaves this earthly place in such a beautiful, eloquent style that is befitting of her community standing.

I was really moved by the episode, and it reminded me that the only thing with certainty in life — is that change will occur. We all move forward, and there is joy, sorrow, pain, and solace, and that the relationships we make are what buoy us along the way. 

Change is inevitable, and you can fight it. Or you can embrace it with all the ebbs and flows, ups and downs, twists and turns, because the evolution of your life will continue to progress. 

I love that the Call the Midwife characters are such amazing examples of how to serve your community with grace, respect, expertise, and humility. Each episode enlightens and educates us. But, more importantly, helps us traverse the many things that can fall across our life paths. 

As a modern-day midwife, I work with challenged individuals, families that have complicated issues, and a community that has many complexities. Our characters encourage us to show up for each other.

There are lessons learned at every turn. 

Throughout these 15 seasons, we have witnessed our characters as they managed many obstacles that entailed helping others accept, adapt, or alter. Throughout this season, our characters faced what appeared to be many new and what felt like unsurmountable challenges. 

At times, we have seen resistance, as humans often want to control things. In the end, we have to look at the landscape with reality and identify what we can control. In Call the Midwife, they carried on with their immediate tasks at hand with their district work. 

But, just like our characters, we also realize there can be much out of our control. Takeaway lessons can be embraced as modern-day midwives face similar issues. 

At times, we need to reframe what we are faced with and see new opportunities for growth. We have seen that with Joyce as she takes on her new hospital leadership role as the Sister Matron. We see Trixie as she moves into a leadership role at the Lady Emily Clinic. 

We inhale and exhale and gather our lessons, learn, and grow. These two characters have learned so much in their current roles, and now will carry that forward as they lead new teams in near arenas.

Our characters are like watching a Master Class in how to manage change and how to be resilient. They engage, prepare, and lead with empathy and care for each other, as well as themselves, to the best of their capabilities. 

It is our connections in life that support us along the way. 

Sometimes you need to put one foot in front of the other and just keep showing up for yourself — you eat, drink, move, and try to sleep. Then you have to look inside and search your souls and visualize your next move or transformation. You stay true to yourself and your calling or mission. 

Sometimes there is a silver lining. 

The challenges can be opportunities. You have to dig deep and realize your strengths as you continue to engage in your meaningful work of helping others. 

I see a consistency with our show as a modern-day midwife. We always have to navigate how to best protect women, babies, and communities. It can be overwhelming as we try to protect and support physiologic birth in a culture of inductions of labor and endless use of monitors. 

It is not easy to protect “normal.” It can be disheartening, as we are not always seen as equals with our physician colleagues. You can be railroaded and sidelined. We have seen this in our Call the Midwife series as well.

But I love the show as it always cheers us on to stay true to our purpose. 

In the series, the characters have always shown up for each other. For myself, I have found solace in finding ways to help manage the stress of change. I embrace journaling, mindfulness meditation, and walking in nature with my dog. 

I look for support in my connections when I am facing fears or the unknown. I have found it best to move to purposeful action, rather than staying in an anxiety-driven frozen state.   

In our final episode of Season 15, it brought me back to the prior episode where they mentioned the Warp and the Weft of life. I feel that the midwifery model of care represents the warp: the stable, long-lasting element or foundation. The weft is each character and each person in our storyline. 

So many episodes that we have all loved. So many storylines witnessed as the characters traveled along their life work and life paths. They have been dynamic, and we continually witnessed change and growth. 

Each episode has been a lesson learned that added color and substance to my awareness as a midwife. 

I had some tears as we will be moving in new directions. I will miss the humor, warmth, and wisdom of all the characters under one roof. But, as Sister Evangelina and all the nuns from their Order welcomed Sister Monica Joan to the afterworld, I did feel a sense of calmness.   

I took comfort in Sister Julienne’s words — “All will be well.” 

I take a deep breath as they each step into change and new chapters. I say thank you, Call the Midwife, and the seasons with lessons taught and shared with all of us. And, I look forward to what is ahead for Call the Midwife and the new lessons as a modern-day midwife.

“There have always been goodbyes at Nonnatus House. And there have always been endings. Year after year, there have always been some drawing down of blinds, some closing of doors, some waving away of voyagers and exiles. We have grieved, because there was no love without pain. And we survived, because the love was always greater. There will always be another chapter and more change. The world is forever evolving and the winds are sometimes cold. But it is what we carry safe within us that will stay the same. Hope is the pearl inside the oyster, the seed in its sacred husk, hidden in the sweet, dark earth until the Spring comes.”