Everyone Matters

By Lance Davidson (Deputy Principal) 

I have recently read a book titled ‘Death on Hold.’

The blurb on the back of the book states:

In January 1983 Burt Folsom read a story in Time magazine about Mitch Rutledge, a man on death row with an IQ of 84 who said he was sorry for what he did. The last line of the magazine story read “Forget him.” But Burt refused to do so, writing Mitch a letter and discovering a man more interesting and intelligent than the article revealed.

Mitch was someone who circumstances were such that he had very little support from family (his mum died and his dad deserted him) or friends as a young man. He was illiterate, couldn’t read or write at all and had no one who cared about him. BUT God did care and Burt, along with some other significant people, came into Mitch’s life and helped to transform it.

This true story made me think. Are we writing off anyone? Have we decided that someone we know or have heard about isn’t worth the time or effort to invest in? While Mitch’s life didn’t seem to matter and to some he wasn’t worth worrying about, importantly there were people who came into his life who cared for him and showed him that he was worth something – he was someone of value. Everyone … has … value. Everyone has been made for a purpose and we all need others to help us in knowing and believing that.

Is there someone that needs you as a friend, to give them hope, to show them how valuable they are?

As a school, our starting point with each student is to let them know that they matter. They have worth and are someone who has been uniquely made by God. No matter what has come their way in life and the journey they have been on, we want to show them that they are someone who has a future, one that is filled with hope, joy and love.

We hope that every student at BHCS knows that they matter.