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Principal's Message - Week 1, Term 4
I wonder whether you have noticed, in reading through much of the New Testament, when the Apostle Paul shines the brightest for Jesus. From my perspective, it appears to occur most often when he is under the most persecution. That persecution is not simply someone saying something bad about him or posting a derogatory comment online, but literally people wanting to kill him. Indeed, Chapter 14 of Acts explains how Paul was stoned by an angry crowd to the point that they “dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.”
In these difficult moments - the prison incarcerations, the engagements with angry mobs, or encounters with the political rulers of his time - Paul seems especially emboldened to speak of the salvation that exists in Christ. I am not advocating for us to seek out the same persecution. We certainly live in a different time, in a very different part of the world, and do not experience anything like the challenges and suffering that Paul did. At the same time, I sometimes wonder whether our comfort diminishes our reliance on Christ. In another sense, perhaps our willingness to allow our children to experience difficult moments also diminishes.
Paul clearly knew what he was talking about when he wrote in Romans 5:3–4: “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Paul lived his life with the sure hope of salvation through Christ. I think all of us, as parents and educators, want to help raise young people who have virtuous character and a hope for the future. The Bible explains that part of the way this occurs is through challenging circumstances that require perseverance.
Recently, I read a helpful article by a Christian school principal from the United States. The title of the article is Fragility Will Hurt Your Child More than Failure Will, and it unpacks this notion further, that students need to develop grit and determination, which will serve them well throughout life. Of course, we need to face and work through difficult circumstances to develop that determination.
As we continue to minister to your children, part of the challenge we face is to ensure that we are helping them develop resilience and coping strategies. This means that we collectively need to provide opportunities for them to experience difficulty, navigate hardship, and sit within challenges. As a parent of four children myself, I can understand how this sometimes feels counterintuitive to the innate desire we have to care for our children. But that, too, seems biblical. God doesn’t claim to rescue us from all challenges, but He does affirm that He will walk alongside us amidst those challenges. Clearly, He knows best that this is for our good, even if it can feel uneasy as a parent.
As we commence this term, we are welcoming a new staff member to our school community. Mrs Jenesis Picot will be joining the Administration Team as a Registered Nurse. She will be working from 10am to 2pm each day. Please make her feel welcome if you happen to see her in the front office.
God bless,
