A Heart of Gratitude

In preparing for the final term of the year, God has drawn me back to the words from Colossians 6: 16-17 which says: 

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

These verses are a beautiful reminder that gratitude is not simply something we express from time to time, but a posture that shapes our hearts and influences all that we do. God's Word is filled with promise, hope, and truth - for this I am deeply thankful. It is a precious gift to his people, teaching us, encouraging us and shaping our hearts and minds as we seek to follow him. As we pause to reflect on these God-breathed words, our hearts respond in gratitude for the stories, the reminders and the confidence that it brings as God’s goodness and faithfulness is evident across all time and space.

I am grateful for the daily opportunity to respond in action to the words that Paul shares with the people in Colossae. What a privilege it is to teach our precious young people about the truth of His word and foster a Godly wisdom within their young hearts and minds. We must never take for granted the blessing and responsibility we share as we work in partnership to “cultivate each student’s academic growth, authentic faith and personal development” (DCC Vision Statement). With thankful hearts, we can celebrate the opportunity to carry out this purpose each day, anchored in God's truth and built upon His unchanging foundation.

Every day provides countless reasons for gratitude. The sounds of children worshipping, the echoes that fill our yard as children laugh and play, and the times of instruction, learning and celebration that is seen and heard in every classroom are beautiful pictures and daily reminders of God’s goodness. I am grateful for the dedicated team of staff who are faithfully living out their current God-given ‘assignment’, making the most of every learning experience and helping young learners to be all that God has created them to be.

As we head into the final term, our deep hope is that our students will cultivate hearts of gratitude and thankfulness as we consider God’s goodness, his unfailing love and the peace that only He can bring – in the big things and in the everyday incidental moments. Join with us, as we seek to be a community that continues to give thanks to God for all He has done, is doing and will continue to do in the days to come.