Principal's Ponderings

Open Hands

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

One of the greatest lessons life continues to teach me, is that we are not as in control as we sometimes think we are. No matter how carefully we plan, life has a way of surprising us. I've been away interstate with my family over the break, and travel plans, schedules and bookings are not what you somethings think. Just like in life a conversation can change our perspective. An unexpected phone call reshapes our day. A door opens we never anticipated, while another quietly closes. As parents, we know this perhaps better than anyone. We make plans for our children, dream about their future and hope to protect them from disappointment, yet we soon discover that every child has their own unique journey to walk. Perhaps that is why Proverbs 3 has remained such a treasured passage for generations. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart... and He will make your paths straight." It is an invitation to hold life with open hands.

I wonder if one of the greatest tensions we experience is the temptation to hold too tightly, to the very things God has asked us to entrust to Him. Maybe, our plans, our children, our hopes for success, our possessions. And even our reputation. None of these are wrong. In fact, they are often wonderful gifts from God. The question is not whether we value them, but whether we trust God with them. Do you trust God with all of these?

As I reflect on our Devonport Christian School community, I am continually encouraged by families who model this kind of faith. Parents who release their children each morning with a quiet prayer. Team members who continually, faithfully serve, often behind the scenes, not seeking recognition but simply wanting to honour Christ. Students who discover that their identity is not found in comparison or popularity but in knowing they are deeply loved by God. Especially when it means maybe they are on the fringe. Living with open hands is not about caring less. It is about trusting more.

Jesus Himself demonstrated this beautifully. He held people with deep compassion, yet He continually entrusted every circumstance to His Father. Even in the most difficult moments, His confidence rested not in having control, but in knowing the One who did. There is something wonderfully freeing about that. When we hold our plans with open hands, we become more willing to follow where God leads. When we hold success with open hands, we celebrate character as much as achievement. When we hold our possessions with open hands, generosity becomes a joy rather than a sacrifice. When we hold our reputation with open hands, we become less concerned with pleasing people and more committed to faithfully following Christ.

Perhaps the greatest gift we can give our children is not the example of parents who have everything perfectly planned, but parents who trust God when life unfolds differently than expected. Children notice that kind of faith. They see it in the prayers we pray. In the peace we carry during uncertainty. In the grace we extend when plans change. In the hope we continue to hold because we know that God's faithfulness never changes.

As we continue walking together as a school community, may we have the courage to loosen our grip on the things we cannot control and place them once again into the hands of the One who can. Especially for our Year 10 students this term, as this is their final term with us at DCS before we farewell them stepping into new pathways and journeys beyond DCS - but remaining ALWAYS part of our school community! Our first Year 10 Graduates! May we all remember when our hands are open before God, they are also open to receive His peace, His wisdom and His leading. And there is no safer place for our plans, our families or our future than in the loving hands of our faithful Father.

Wholehearted for Jesus,

Chad