The Ministry Behind Babysitting

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Megan Staggs at a conference. After I heard about her specific ministry to babysitters, I asked her to send me this story to share with all of you. May it inspire you, as well!

This month marks one year from when I started babysitting for a family who has two girls, now 3 years old and 14 months.  The girls and I hung out at least one day a week for a couple of hours, if not more. Within just those couple hours a lot can happen.

One day the oldest was playing dress-up like she always does, and she kept asking me if I thought she was beautiful.  My first response was, "Of course, I think you are beautiful." 

After she asked me that question more than once, I realized, "Wow, she is thinking this dress is going to make her pretty; this crown is going to make her look like a princess; and adding all the accessories will make her beautiful."  

At that point I realized this was a very teachable moment. She was two years old and already this sweet little girl believed that beauty comes from what you wear, the shoes you have, and if your accessories match.  I began to share with her how God sees her, and that beauty doesn't come from the clothes you have on but that beauty comes from the heart.  I began explaining to her what makes a girl a princess is by her words of kindness, by the way she shares her toys, and by the way she obeys her parents.  

That day I realized that babysitting is not just a job but it is a unique opportunity to share Christ with children and serve families in their home.  I have learned so much from being a babysitter, not to mention learning skills that I am going to be able to use when I am one day a mom, Lord willing.  I began to think, "How come I never thought of babysitting as my mission field?"  

During that same time I was a student in a discipleship program, Downline Ministries. Going through Downline, my paradigm totally shifted and for the first time I began to have a "kingdom" mindset. Meaning, I began to see the urgency of how the gospel needs to be shared and that God has commanded me as a follower of Christ to be part of teaching younger believers God's truth and showing them how to live it out. Even though I may only have a few hours with children each day or each week or even each month, those few hours can have major impact on the child's life.  

So then I began to pray about the idea of training girls about this perspective, sharing with them the importance of being a babysitter and the huge impact they can have on a family. This became a focused ministry that "loves on" the entire family: the parents get a date night or are able to go to work and the sitter is able to help parents raise their children to be disciples for Christ. It is also an evangelistic opportunity. What an amazing impact there could be if a sitter interacted with those children in such a way that it opens up the opportunity for the gospel to be shared with a non-Christian family!

I want girls to see that many people don't invite others into their homes anymore, so when we get to be around people in their comfort zones, we can make their lives easier. We get to serve parents by going the extra mile to empty the dishwasher (or load it), to take the trash out, to bring a fun craft for the kids to do, to fold clothes and even sometimes put them up, to play outside with the kids, to feed the kids a healthy meal, to sweep the floors, to pray with the kids before a meal or going to sleep, etc. I want girls to see that we are not getting paid to sit on a couch and watch TV, or play on the computer, or text friends or listen to music. We are getting paid to work, and what parent would not be thankful to come home to fewer chores! 

Over time some families become more than clients, they become like family. I can go on and on about how I have been blessed by families who have taken me in and made me a part of them. It is a very special relationship that I praise God for!! I have learned about different marriages; I have learned different parenting techniques; I have gotten to cook with moms; I have gotten to ask the moms about Biblical womanhood; and I have seen how husbands should treat their wives and vice versa. God has taught me so many lessons about myself and Him through children. I have been able to travel with families and see their home towns--my list can go on and on. That is discipleship!! That is doing life-on-life!  And if a sitter were able to love on one family that didn't know Christ, big things could happen! God's kingdom can be glorified through babysitting!

My prayer is that girls would see God's grace and how they can be used for God's kingdom through playing with and loving on kids. On the other hand, I also pray that families would see how big of an impact they can have on a girl's life who is their babysitter. And I pray that God would be glorified through it all!  

Comments

[Claudia]

An awesome perspective on a job most don't take seriously enough. I'm almost finished with a bestseller (which was recommended to me) called "The Help". One of the housekeepers in the book works at implanting uplifting truths into the heart her little charge, trying to combat the negativity coming at the child from an unloving mother.

[Ashleigh]

Coming from a family that Megan serves so selflessly...this girl is incredible. My kids refer to her as "Megan...you know, our favorite babysitter". WHAT A BLESSING to know and trust those watching your little ones. That they are not just watching them, but LOVING them so well! We love Megan and wish there were more girls like her.

[Sarah Ann]

I agree with you, Megan. What a great impact we as a babysitter/nanny can have on the kids we watch and also on their parents. I have been a babysitter for five years and a nanny for over one, and what an opprotunity to teach the kids of the Lord...and also learn many lessons yourself! One family that I babysat for a little over a year ago was un-churched and clearly unsaved. Their 7 year old boy knew just a couple Bible stories. What a thrill it was for me (with the parent's permission) to share Bible stories with him. Telling him the story of creation for the first time and answering his questions about it was a joy that I cannot explain! Caring for children is such a valuable and rewarding job! I would not trade my nanny job for any other job in the world!

[Karen Bonenberger]

Hi Megan,

Thank you so much for sharing this! As a fellow babysitter, I can so relate to everything you are talking about, and this is also something we talk about often. I so appreciate your taking the highest view on babysitting, not seeing it as just a time to get by and make a few bucks, but as a way to minister and do our part in the transfer of the gospel. Thanks so much again, and may you continue to bear much fruit in the kingdom of God through babysitting!

Psalm 73, 4-7,
Karen Bonenberger

[Chris Hill]

Awesome post - as a family Megan babysits/ministers to I am proud to welcome her into my home and steal my kids (and money) while I'm out. :)

http://www.mrchrishill.com/2010/04/introducing-sojourn-sitters.html