Nobody Signs up for Nursery for the Wrong Reasons
A friend and I were talking about church nursery workers last night. Her pastor says that nursery duty doesn't just allow ministry to happen in other parts of the building; it is ministry.
I think sometimes pastors become pastors for the wrong reasons. Worship leaders and teachers, too. I've certainly done things which looked like ministry, but were really just selfish attempts to gain personal honor or appreciation.
But nursery workers? I don't think many nursery workers sign on for the wrong reason. For one thing, nobody even knows they're there. Nobody, who can talk, anyway. They're usually stuffed into some dimly lit room in the basement, far enough from the masses that wailing infants won't disturb anyone. Anyone except the nursery worker, that is.
When Jesus said that the last shall be first, I wonder if he was thinking of nursery workers. They certainly are the last ones off duty! And the last ones to be honored or thanked... especially by the babies!
I think that all of us non-nursery workers will probably regret our decision to opt out of nursery duty-- especially when we gather around Christ's judgment seat and watch him hand rewards to faithful nursery workers who wiped little noses and bottoms because, and only because, they wanted to serve Jesus.
But it's not too late. If you ask really nice, I'll bet they'd let you on the nursery schedule at your church!