Story by Marji McIlvaine
Photos by Rob Wilkins
In the Butterflies Room, Beth Sanders can smell it in the air. Part instinct, part experience, part olfactory gift, she suspects a full diaper.
With nine infants in today’s nursery, she knows there is only one sure-fired process of elimination: running down and sniffing little bottoms. Once the offender is identified, she places the little one on the changing table, an automated poop removal assembly line, if you will, and explains her motivation for serving. Her eyes crinkle with a smile.
“I began working in the nursery six years ago, mainly because my own children were growing up and I really needed an ongoing baby fix,” Beth says.
Beth releases the infant, who is free to explore with a much lighter load. She chases after another little one, who is sharing a toy with someone who may not be so enthusiastic about the concept of sharing. While most nursery volunteers here at Grace serve one Sunday per month, Beth is a bit different. She has faithfully served every Sunday, only taking the summers off. When asked why she does this, or even why she volunteers her time at all, she is quickly able to frame an answer even while gently returning the runaway.
“I think we have the ultimate precedent when it comes to service. Jesus said, in Matt. 20:28, ‘Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.’ I just wish I cared more about serving than being served.”
Beth explains that she volunteered in the nursery for ‘less than altruistic’ reasons. “My reasons were somewhat selfish,” she says. “I had been teaching children's Sunday School in classes where some weekday preparation was necessary. My obsessive teacher tendencies made me want to get to church early on Sunday mornings to get the room set up and all my materials laid out. But when we were trying to get our own four children out the door at one time and I wanted to get to church early, I found myself fussing at my own kids in order to get to church and teach other people's kids. I finally felt I should change my priorities and look for a ministry that worked better for my own family. At that time, I was also sad that my childbearing years seemed to be over and the fifth child I wanted so badly never came.”
Beth’s story is interrupted, once again, by little Patton, who is testing out his newly discovered throwing arm with a perfectly placed ball in Beth’s lap. “We believe this little one might be a quarterback in the making,” Beth says as she throws the ball back to him. Patton makes a perfect catch.
“But then again, he may be a wide receiver,” Beth says with a surprised smile.
She returns to her train of thought barely missing a beat. There were other reasons, she says, for choosing to volunteer in the nursery. “I was a mom who seldom used babysitters and had difficulty putting my children in nurseries,” she recalls. “When I did put them in, they were pretty high maintenance for the nursery workers. One son would scream and then hold his breath until he turned purple -- scaring many a nursery volunteer. So I came to this job with tolerance for the babies who get really upset and with empathy for parents who struggle to drop off their child even for a short time. My goal is for us to do everything possible to keep the children happy so the parents can actually relax and have the chance for corporate worship. I know how much parents of little ones need a break and need fellowship, and I just want to facilitate that for them.”
When asked how service at Grace compares to her experience in other churches, Beth takes a deep breath, seemingly much more comfortable not to be talking about herself.
“As a worker and as a parent, I appreciate the fact that classes just won't be held if there aren't enough volunteers. The church is not willing to risk the safety of a child. At Grace, there's a trust that if a program is meant to be, God will provide and it doesn't have to be forced.”
In this never-ending beehive of activity, it’s plain to see Beth is a gifted facilitator. She cradles little Nicholas, who feels the need to stop in for an occasional hug; she feeds Luis a handful of Cheerios, which attracts a parade of little feet, quickly followed by chewing little mouths.
In the middle of this temporary quiet, surrounded by children she loves, you get the overwhelming feeling Beth is only too happy to feed these little ones.
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