Principal's Ponderings

Families That Bless Others

"I will bless you... and you will be a blessing." Genesis 12:2

One of the things I genuinely love about our Devonport Christian School community, is that some of the most meaningful things that happen are often the things hardly anyone sees. A family quietly dropping off a meal to someone who is doing it tough. A student helping another student without being asked. Parents organising transport so other children can be included in an activity, or even simply make it to school. A grandparent or volunteer faithfully serving in ways that may never be publicly recognised. Conversation and encouragements that lifts someone after a difficult week. They can seem like small things, but I am not sure they are small at all. I think moments like these reveal something beautiful about the heart of God.

When God called Abraham in Genesis 12, He said, “I will bless you… and you will be a blessing.” God’s blessing was never meant to finish with Abraham. Through him, God’s plan was to bring blessing to the nations, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And as followers of Jesus, we are invited into that same posture. We receive grace, love, generosity and hope from God, and then we carry those things into the lives of others.

It made me wonder what might happen if one simple question became part of the rhythm of our homes. Rather than always asking, “What do we need?” or “What can we get?” what if we regularly asked: “Who could we bless this week?”

I have a feeling this one shift, this one question, may change the atmosphere of our homes, our school and even our wider community. Children are wonderfully observant. They notice what captures our attention. If our conversations are mostly about what we want, what we need or what we don't have, they naturally begin to see life through that same lens. But when they watch us intentionally look for opportunities to encourage, serve and give, they begin to discover the joy that comes from living with open hands.

Jesus modelled this perfectly. He noticed people who were overlooked. He welcomed those on the margins. He gave His time, His compassion and ultimately His life so that others could experience hope. His life reminds us that blessing others is not always about doing something big. Often, it is found in ordinary acts of love offered with an extraordinary heart. Perhaps blessing someone this week looks like inviting another family over for a meal. Maybe it is writing a note of encouragement to a teacher or another parent. Possibly it could be checking in on a neighbour, visiting a grandparent, helping a sibling without being asked or praying together for someone who is carrying a heavy burden. None of these things require perfection. They simply require hearts that are looking beyond themselves.

One of the great privileges of Christian education is that we get to partner with families in helping our young people discover that life is not centred on ourselves. We want our students to grow into people who naturally ask, "How can I serve?" and "How can I reflect the love of Jesus today?"

Imagine the difference that would make if every Devonport Christian School family intentionally looked for one person to bless each week. How would the conversations around our dinner tables be different? Would different friendships grow? Imagine the hope that may ripple through our community. As we continue this journey together, may we remember that every blessing we have received from God is also an invitation to bless others. May our homes be places of generosity, our classrooms places of encouragement and our community a living reflection of the love of Christ. Because when we choose to bless others, we often discover that God has been quietly blessing our own hearts all along.

Shalom,

Chad