Welcome

I used to love to watch the television program ‘Who do you think you are?’ on SBS. If you are unfamiliar with this, it is a show that traces the family histories of famous Australians. In their family histories, the Australians find all sorts of interesting characters and stories, some of hope and prosperity and some of discouragement and disaster. Through all of the exploration of their family histories, the person can see how they came to be who they are today and understand those closest family members in a much clearer light.  

This got me thinking, who do we think we are? So often we define ourselves through our role in life, and what we do. Are we a mother, father, accountant, teacher, farmer, pastor, shop assistant or student? Or does what we have achieved define who we are? Are we an A+ student, best and fairest footy player, salesperson of the month? Are we defined by the things that we have done right in our lives or the things that we have done wrong?  Or are we defined by what others say about us? Or do we take some of these elements to determine who we are?  

I think how we identify ourselves determines so much of how we live and approach our lives, others, our work, and our study. If you are what you do, you will always need to do more and achieve more to find your value. If you are who others say, you will always need to please people to find your value. This can be a very dangerous area for children and teenagers to fall into as they can easily succumb to negative peer pressure defining themselves by what their friends say about them. If we define ourselves through the good or bad things that we have done, how can we ever change those events in the past and therefore change how we see ourselves?  

So how should we define ourselves? I think a really great place to start is the Bible. If you listen to who God says you are, then you will be free to be all that God has planned you to be. God calls you His child. He says that you are restored, that you are a brand-new creation in Christ, that you are chosen and holy and blameless in his sight, that you are His masterpiece and you are loved by God. God says you are made whole through Jesus your saviour! It is a pretty good view of who you are and who you are meant to be don’t you think? 

Mrs Lisa Dumicich

Principal