In this article, Katy Dawson from Ashton, England, shares how her faith shapes her everyday life—from her work as a midwife to the different ways she reflects God’s love in the ordinary and often challenging moments of her journey.

My name is Katy Dawson. I am a mum, wife, musician, midwife, and a follower of Jesus.

In my younger years, I imagined living an exciting life as a medical missionary in a distant place of great need. In my pursuit, I had the privilege of working with the Church of the Nazarene in Russia and Albania, at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea, and many other countries across Eurasia.

Despite my efforts and passion, the doors to long-term global missions closed, and I did not understand why. My everyday life became a much more ordinary existence, juggling my family, job, interests, and church activities. Thankfully, our God is gracious and patient. He helped me see the missions field that I was already in the middle of—both humbling and amazing!

For many years I worked as a community midwife. In one day I would visit and care for such a diverse set of people and circumstances. I visited families who had fled countries like Afghanistan or Eritrea. I might go from one home with a healthy, thriving baby to another mother whose premature baby was in the hospital, then to the lovely home of a wealthy family with organic everything for their newborn. Around the next corner, I might visit a terrified teenager with her first baby, a single mother escaping domestic abuse, or a patient pregnant as a result of suspected sex trafficking.

Recently, I returned to the hospital setting, working in specialist midwifery roles in fetal medicine and, now, ultrasound.

Fetal medicine is a place no patient wants to be. It’s a place of tears and heartache as parents grapple with difficult genetic, chromosomal, or structural diagnoses.

I remember caring for a couple faced with the heartbreaking news that their unborn baby would not survive outside the womb. Although they had the option to end their pregnancy, the couple chose to continue. When their baby was born, they were able to hear their child cry and hold the baby for a few precious hours before the baby's first and last breaths. Despite the pain and grief of their loss, the family was incredibly grateful for that special time and thanked me for the care that I had provided. It was a deeply humbling privilege to hear that.

I am not permitted to speak about Jesus or my faith with my patients, but I do not believe that stops me from reflecting the love, light, and compassion of our God.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of seeing two of my colleagues decide to follow Jesus. Many others have asked me to pray for situations they are facing. I believe this comes from years of building relationships, where people watch how you live out your faith in the everyday.

I used to think my life hadn’t turned out the way I imagined, but maybe it actually did—just in a much more unexpected and rich way.

Your passions, the things that bring you joy, and what surrounds you when you truly open your eyes—pour your time and effort into those things and give them to God. I believe you will find meaning, purpose, joy, and true life as you journey through your own roller coaster of life.