By increasing the numbers of children that each carer can oversee, they are hoping that costs will fall. Issues of safety of the children, and the educational qualifications of the nursery staff will be debated, before any changes are implemented. If the price drops, will the quality remain high?
When St. Paul visited Thessalonica, and then wrote to his friends there, he emphasised the quality of the care he gave to his friends. Quite startlingly, he describes himself in parenting language, as both mother and father to the new Christian community. 'We were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.' (1 Thessalonians 2.7-8) 'And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.' (1 Thessalonians 2.11-12)
From these descriptions, we can see that in Paul's world, it was assumed that good parents would provide quality care. It also clear that he assumed that 'family' was a good metaphor for life in a local church. Some might challenge paternalistic language, though what Paul actually says - encouragement rather than bullying - seems to show that he was gentle and gracious in his relationships with his friends.
If we should think the Paul was trying to exploit his new friends, we need to note how much this work cost him. 'Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.' (1 Thessalonians 2.9)
Quality care, whether in nurseries, our homes or our church, can only be given when we are prepared to serve others. If we are Christians, then we do this in the name of Christ. That is what we are called to offer.
Best wishes,
Richard
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