Principal's Ponderings
From our Principal - Mr Chad Smit
Small Daily Choices
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." — Galatians 6:9
The other morning, as I was getting ready for the day, I found myself thinking about how much of life is shaped by the things we hardly notice. Brushing our teeth. Making the bed. Watering the garden. Going for a walk. Sitting down to practise the piano. Sharing a meal together. Stopping to pray before the day begins. None of these moments seem particularly significant on their own. Yet over time, they become part of who we are.
It reminded me that God often works in the same way. While we are usually drawn to the big milestones and memorable moments, He is often at work in the quiet, unseen choices that are repeated day after day.
As parents and educators, we naturally celebrate achievements. We rejoice when students perform in a musical, master a new maths concept, score their first goal or graduate into a new season of life. These are wonderful moments worth celebrating. But long before those moments arrive, something else has been taking place. Character has been quietly growing.
A child choosing honesty when no one else would have known. A student persevering when learning became difficult. A friend offering kindness instead of joining in with gossip. A parent choosing patience after a long day. A teacher faithfully encouraging a student who simply needed someone to believe in them. These moments rarely receive applause. Yet I believe they are the very places where God is shaping hearts.
The Apostle Paul encourages us in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." There is something deeply reassuring about those words. Paul reminds us that growth is rarely immediate. Like a seed planted in good soil, the harvest often comes after many ordinary days of faithful care.
A flourishing garden is not created by watering it once. A confident pianist is not formed through a single lesson. Strong friendships are not built in one conversation. Likewise, a deep and enduring faith grows through daily choices to trust God, spend time in His Word, pray, worship and love others. That is one of the beautiful privileges we share as a Christian school community. Together with families, we are helping to cultivate habits that point our children towards Jesus. Every encouraging conversation, every act of service, every prayer shared in the classroom or around the dinner table, every opportunity to forgive, every reminder that each person is made in the image of God, these small moments become the building blocks of a life shaped by Christ.
Perhaps today is an invitation to see the ordinary a little differently. Never underestimate the power of reading a Bible story with your child before bed. Never underestimate the impact of a simple "I'm proud of you," or "Can I pray with you?" Never underestimate the kindness of noticing someone who feels overlooked. These moments may seem small. In God's Kingdom, they never are.
As we continue walking together as the Devonport Christian School community, may we remain faithful in the little things. For it is often through thousands of quiet, unseen decisions that God forms Christlike character, strengthens our community and prepares a harvest that will bless generations to come.
Shalom,
Chad