Today for my church’s Ash Wednesday service, I sat in the nursery with four little faces looking up at me, asking me to read the pile of books they had chosen. Book by book, the pile lessened, and yet they still sat at my feet and listened. Afterwards, several people said “thank you” or “I’m sorry” that I had to miss the actual service to be in the nursery. And I murmured back the appropriate response. But in my heart I knew God was in the nursery this morning.
I’ll be honest with you. Sometimes children’s ministry doesn’t feel exciting. I’ve been there, sweating and exhausted, wondering if I’m making any sort of headway or planting any seed in these children’s lives. I tell myself at least I’m here for the parents, so they can be in “big church” and their children are safe and cared for. And I sort of trust God that this is good work, after all, we know Jesus loved children and cared for them deeply. But it’s all just words, because sometimes it feels like a chore.
But God is in the nursery.
God’s economy is different than ours. The first shall be last; the last shall be made first. Seek first God’s kingdom, not money, not power. The widow’s offering of almost nothing was more valuable than a fortune. God himself came to earth, not as a king, but as a baby. God’s economy is different than ours.
Children’s ministry might feel small, it might even feel pointless, it might even feel boring. But it matters to God. God’s economy is different than ours.
So if you spend your morning caring for even one small child... that is what brings God glory. And I know God was in our nursery this morning.
*originally written February 26, 2020