Northminster Presbyterian Church - Pastor's Corner

HOME

WHAT'S NEW

CALENDAR

Pastor's Corner
A message from Pastor Andy Ross...

Where Have All the Babysitters Gone?! - January 28, 2005

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:7.

Dear friends,

Just try and find a good sitter these days! Babysitting no longer holds the prestige it once did for the shrinking pool of available teenagers. Younger children, in recent years, have grown in population, while the teen population has held steady. Add to that the lure of higher-paying, steadier jobs for high school students, and you end up with some parents these days desperate to find a sitter.

Sanctuary Cross

But we all need babysitting, don't we? Let me put it this way: we all need someone to sit with us from time to time!

In 1 Thessalonians 2:7, Paul talks about his leadership in the church as "like a mother caring for her little children." Is that bad? Is that wrong? No! That's good, caring and committed leadership of real-life people who sometimes need great and tender nurture.

So, in your church and neighborhood, here are some babysitting tips on caring for people successfully:

Love them! Have compassion for those who are struggling, or lost, or just in need of some compassion.
Be knowledgeable about them! Understanding what other people really need is the key for effective caring.
Be adaptable! As with children, often in your real life community, you have to flex your plans to keep others safe and secure.
You will be in demand! You know what? The world is simply aching for individuals who can do the above short list.

The world is facing a shortage of good sitters. Give it a try, it's the best job in the world.

God's blessings to you this day!

Andy Ross
Pastor

Dr. Andrew Ross