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“There’s always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.” —Graham Greene
I never intended to write this book. I didn’t go looking for it—it found me. Let me explain. My first book, Too Small to Ignore, was 266 pages long. But just three of those pages (9–12) form the genesis of this book, Just a Minute.
In the six years since the first book appeared, I’ve traveled across the world speaking, as always, about the value of children. It has often required me to tell my story of both joy and agony while growing up in West Africa. I’ve noticed that whenever I start talking about how tender and impressionable the heart of a child is, the auditorium goes eerily quiet. The metaphor of a child’s spirit being a lot like wet cement or moist clay, just waiting for an act of kindness, a hug, or a well-timed word of encouragement, seems to bring a flood of memory to many listeners. I can see that momentarily I have “lost” them. Their eyes turn pensive, their gaze wanders somewhere beyond me, and they are children again, lost in their thoughts . . . remembering.
I sometimes ask the audience directly, “So who was it? What did they say to you? What did they do? Who believed in you before you believed in yourself?” Eyes well up with tears, and audible sobs have broken out. Once in Holland, I had to stop and comfort my translator, who broke down in the middle of our message.
After speaking engagements I have lingered sometimes for hours as people line up to tell me their stories. We laugh, cry, hug, and then part as kindred spirits. We are better, more grateful, more determined people for the moments spent together. Book signings have become emotional times of memories and gratitude. Meanwhile, emails have poured in from across the world in which readers share their reflections, who blessed them, and what they are now doing to pass on that blessing.
So this book simply had to be written. From the stories of others I have become convinced that if God stands a child before you, for even just a minute, it is a divine appointment. You have the chance to launch a life, if you will. You never know when you are making a memory.
With each child you encounter, you have the power and opportunity to build up . . . or, sadly, to tear down. A life can be literally launched with as little as a single word, an uplifting comment, a well-timed hug, a tender prayer, a compliment, the holding of a frightened hand, or the gentle wiping of a tear—all in just a minute!
From JUST A MINUTE by Wess Stafford with Dean Merrill. Published by Moody Press. Copyright (c) Wess Stafford with Dean Merrill, 2012.
In Just a Minute, Dr. Wess Stafford, president of Compassion International, shares stories and experiences to introduce you to the difference you can make in a child’s life, anywhere on the spectrum of child development.
You don’t have to be a teacher, a parent, a pastor or a doctor to make a difference in a child’s life. You just have to be willing. From helping to meet physical needs to breaking through emotional barriers, from discovering latent talents to equipping a child with spiritual insights, Just a Minute will be a catalyst and a road map for action.
For good or for ill, individual moments in a young person’s life can make an enormous difference in their future. It may be something said or done by an adult who hardly thinks about it, it may be a simple hug, a compliment, an intriguing question or sincere encouragement and praise. But in that moment, the child discovers who they are, what is important to them, why they matter, and sometimes, even what their destiny will be.
Most of us want to help inspire young people and build up this next generation but have no idea where or how to even begin. Just a Minute points the way—and it only takes a minute.
Hardcover : 224 pages
Publisher: Moody Press ( January 01, 2012 )
Item #: 13-541869
ISBN: 9780802404725
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 0.5inches
Product Weight: 10.0 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

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