A recent health challenge landed me in the radiology department waiting room at a nearby hospital. Time seemed to go by in slow motion as I sat alone and watched a blurry television pointing down at me from its perch between the wall and ceiling. But then some excitement wheeled into the picture.

A neo-natal intensive care nurse arrived with a tiny baby no larger than my foot, and I don't have big feet. As the two of them waited for a procedure room to open, the nurse kept one hand in a glove built into the side of the enclosed crib, and it looked like they were holding hands. The only sound, other than the television, came from the equipment supporting the baby's breathing and other vital functions. I asked the nurse, "Is the little guy going to be okay?"

"We're doing all we can," she replied. "And I can see that he's got a lot of life in him—I bet he's going to be fine."

Then they wheeled the baby into an exam room, with the nurse still walking beside the crib with her hand thrust into the glove. I spent the rest of my wait praying for that precious life, convinced that he was in good hands.

That moment highlighted a truth about children's ministry to me. Kids come through our doors in all sorts of conditions. Some show up happy. Others enter weary. Some come as part of a weekend full of fun. Others arrive worn out from another week of difficulty they didn't ask for, yet have no choice but to endure. Some behave like angels. Others need more angel training. For each of them, no matter what's happening in their lives, we need to do all we can—just like the nurse.

Why? Because God wants you and me to look at every kid and see that he's got a lot of life in him (or her). God takes great pleasure at your decision to invest time in children's ministry, where you stick out your hand (no glove required) to help kids of all types know Jesus—and help them make the most out of that life.

A nurse that I spoke one sentence to gave me words that caused my commitment to deepen in ministry. I hope you will pause for a moment and let God use this story to speak into your life.

I never saw the nurse or baby again that day, but I pray that her words "he's going to be fine" came true. For some reason, I bet they did.

Copyright © 2005 Promiseland.

Read more from 'Encouraging Words'

Words Kids Need to Hear To Help Them Be Who God Made Them to Be by David Staal If you could choose just seven statements to share with children, what would they be? Each chapter in this compelling book focuses on a single statement elementary-age kids need to hear from parents, children's workers, and other close adults. These seven statements are simple to share, yet guaranteed to profoundly impact children. They are: I believe in you. You can count on me. I treasure you. I'm sorry, please forgive me. Because. No. I love you. will educate, equip, and motivate parents and children's ministry teams to carefully choose words that building up kids' hearts, to say them frequently, and to do so in creative ways. What children hear from trusted adults significantly influences their self-image, their current relationships, and future relationships—including that all-important relationship with God.