September 29 Home Communicator –Dear Parents,
I typically have a positive attitude. I can usually find joy in the small things and my smile shows up pretty easily. But if I’m honest, 2020 has been rough. Some days I really have to fight to see the positive and dig deep to find the joy. I am guessing the same is true for many of you. My hope is that I can offer you some encouragement today.
At our staff retreat right before school started, the speaker shared the following verse:
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
In His love, He will no longer rebuke you,
But will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
I had heard this verse before, but for some reason it really resonated with me at the retreat. It made my heart happy. I decided to make it my verse for the school year, so now I read it every morning when I see it posted by my desk. I especially love the phrase about God taking great delight in His children. Isn’t this a beautiful picture? I imagine God smiling down on us, radiating joy from His whole face.
My focus these days has been on the things that are happening at HCS that are bringing delight to God. Focusing on these things brings me joy as well. I think God is delighted to see staff and students reunited, working together again in a face-to-face setting. I think God has been delighted by children who are exploring His creation and learning about toads and monarch butterflies and praying mantises. I think God has been delighted when older siblings hold the hand of a younger brother or sister and help them find their classroom. I think God has been delighted by the classroom communities that are coming together, finding creative ways to play and learn together, and making sure that no one is left out. I think God has been delighted with the way kids are encouraging each other on the playground (and even encouraging their principal when she is playing Lightning for the very first time). I think God has been delighted by the staff members and board members who have so freely given of their time to lighten the loads of others. I think God is delighted when He sees the same faithful someone coming every day to pick up yet another load of returnables from the walkathon trailer behind school. I think God is delighted when he sees our staff gathering together to share stories, read from His Word, and pray for each other. And I think God is delighted that our mission to challenge students’ minds and lives for Christ has not wavered during this time.
There are many things in this world that can bring us down, but what a wonderful reminder it is to know that we are the children of a mighty God who delights in us and rejoices over us with singing!
In His service,
Tricia Kiepert, Elementary Principal
