Just a Minute

How long does it take to eternally impact another life in a positive way?  Just a minute.

How long does it take to eternally impact another life in a negative way?  Just minute.

What is the name of Wess Stafford’s latest book?  Just a Minute!

Wess is the President and CEO of Compassion International.  I have heard him say this so many times, that every time he comes in contact with a child, he considers it a divine moment.  He wouldn’t miss that minute for anything.  I’ll never forget a moment when several of us were gathered around Wess asking him questions.  Then a friend stepped up and said, “I’d like to introduce you to my children,” and proceeded to tell him each of their names.  In “just a minute” Wess was on the floor talking and laughing with them, and all of us were left in bewilderment, realizing that what was really important had just stepped into the conversation (the children).  I will never forget that moment.  How often do we (as adults) try to brush children aside, ignore them or wish they would “grow up?”  You can be sure those children remember those moments that Wess spent with them on the floor that day.

I can hardly wait to get my hands on a copy of this book (I understand Amazon was sold out almost immediately).  If you have read his first book, Too Small to Ignore, you know that a part of his childhood was spent in physical, mental and spiritual abuse.  Now he turns all that around for good as he advises us to take “just a minute” to fill young people with words and expressions of love, hope and confidence.

I think this clip of Wess telling a story is so powerful, and it brought back a specific memory to me.

My memory is that of being a young girl who loved playing the piano.  One day my Uncle Baxter sat down with me at the piano and looked at each page in a Frances Clark study book with me.  He helped me learn how to pronounce the name of each composer and told me a little about them.  Not only did this increase my interest in music history, but it also gave me a sense of worth, value and importance in my own musical journey.  I will never forget that moment, and I still have that book today.  Thank you, Baxter, for taking time with me at such a crucial time.  No wonder I have worked for years as a musician and high school accompanist, encouraging others in their musical journeys.