I love lists. Apparently, I’m not alone. Last year I discovered that there’s a regular event in London for list lovers (click here to read about it). I thought about going and then decided against. I’ve got enough lists in my life already – my competitive instincts just don’t need it.

And when I’m talking lists, I’m not talking run of the mill ‘to do lists’. Oh no. I abandoned those years ago and – do you know what – things still get done. No, my lists are not destined for any crossings out. I keep them in books by my bedside: from the countries I’ve visited to the films I’ve seen; from the little things I find to bless in each day to the big things I still want to achieve in my life…They are my very own biblical texts.

Maybe my love of lists is one of the reasons that I also love Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. I dream of the day I’m invited on to list my eight favourite tracks. And just in case you’re thinking (as I am) ‘Jessica, dream on’, I am encouraged by the fact that they often have people on in their eighties so I’ve still got forty years left to do something worthy enough of being cast away.

Anyway, last week Kirsty Young interviewed Dame Claire Bertschinger. What a woman! For those of you who don’t know who she is (and I confess I didn’t) she’s a modern day Florence Nightingale who has dedicated her life to supporting humanitarian causes as a nurse around the world. Most famously she was interviewed by Michael Buerk in the midst of the Ethiopian Famine of the 1980s. That landmark interview resulted in Live Aid.

Like Florence Nightingale, Claire has never had children. But, for once, Kirsty didn’t labour the subject (if you’ll pardon the pun). Claire simply said: ‘My priority in life was never to get married and have children.’ So I guess the pursuit of motherhood never went in her list-book and I couldn’t help thinking of all the people she’s helped around the world who are truly blessed for that.

So if you have a spare 45 minutes, sit down with a cup of tea and click here to be inspired.

And for this week’s question – go on – tell me about your Desert Island Lists!

www.thepursuitofmotherhood.com