Dear nursery workers,

I want to start by saying how thankful I am for each one of you. You take your turn in the nursery like a champ. You willingly wipe runny noses, and tears of little ones who are not yours. You get down on the floor and play cars, dolls, and act out Noah’s Ark to entertain little ones who are not always sure about the whole nursery situation.

To the workers who still have nursery aged kids thank you! I know when your week comes around you are not always in the mood to wipe more noses of little people. I know how much you want to be in the service with other adults and drink a hot cup of coffee. But you take your turn and you love on those babies, and if you are lucky you will drink a lukewarm cup of coffee. I appreciate your willing hearts to fill in when others cannot make it. I know it is not your favourite form of ministry. I know you are tired and just want to have your cup filled through worship and the message instead of empting the last little bit of your cup in the nursery. Thank you for giving.

To my workers who no longer have little ones, or kids of your own but willingly agree to be on the nursery rotation. You could easily say that you did your time when your own kids were young. You could say that you don’t have kids so nursery is not your area of ministry. But you don’t. You sign up, and you let me move you all over the place when I need a last minute change in the schedule. You snuggle my own kids well after service is over and I take forever to come and get my own toddler. I see you when you arrive early and sit on the floor and read books to the little ones who have also arrived early (usually that means all of my children tucked around you). Thank you so much for giving back.

You all give so much love to these babies and toddlers. You build a special bond that will grow as they do. As they get older they will see you doing ministry and they will know the importance because they will remember the snuggles and all of the books. Thank you for sharing Jesus with my kids and all of the other little ones. Thank you for taking the time to serve in an area that is usually the hardest to fill with volunteers. I appreciate everything that you do, and I want you to know that your work does not go un-noticed.

yours truly, Deborah

aka the pastor who schedules you to wipe noses and have little germy people crawl all over you.