It was a pleasure to “see” most of you at the Parent Meeting on Tuesday! We are blessed to be in this work together! I am so appreciative of the self-sacrificing work that you as parents do every day for the long term wellbeing of your children! God will bless you in that and provide!
Last week, we considered some implications of Putting Christ First based on Matthew 6:33 where Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” This week, one of His disciples challenges us to be separate from the world. He says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1 John 2:15,16) On first glance, this is not an easy concept to accept. Does he mean that we are to live off in separate enclaves, or live as hermits? Some have taken that view as we know, but, taken with other instructions, we take it to mean that we have to guard ourselves from being diluted or even totally washed away in a worldly mindset. We tend to think we can be “balanced” and love the worldly perspective at the same time as be devoted to Jesus. What I have seen when I or others do that is that we become ineffective in both camps–like salt that has lost its saltiness. John was experienced enough at that point in his life to know that, like playing on the sides of the mighty Niagara River, failing to remain separate from the world can put our family’s safety and well-being at risk.
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Having your children at home can develop your patience, but do you think that having your children in Christian day school develops their patience? Children need opportunities to be involved in an abundance of social experiences, where they can explore and practice the social skill of patience. Sometimes we do not have to seek to provide such opportunities; they happen by themselves! In a rich classroom setting, teachers can deliberately help the children to recognize and grow from situations that require patience. It is important that the need to learn patience is kept in balance, or frustration can build. Children are equipped for the real world when they can recognize those situations and learn how to handle their emotions and behaviour in them. That is another benefit of having your children in a Christian school.
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Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTC): Term 1 conferences are mandatory for all parents. This time, PTCs will be by Zoom. You are asked to make your bookings at http://www.allistonccs.com/ptc/ as soon as you can. Report cards will be distributed electronically the day before, and hard copies will follow shortly after. You will receive an email reminder with your Zoom link(s) the day before the conferences.
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Each year The Herald invites local schools to submit artwork or short stories/poems to be used in our annual Christmas Greeting section running in December. All artwork is due by the first Friday in December.
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Consider this … There is no doubt that all of us have needs that differ from the needs of others. To pretend we are all identical – or at least close enough so we can all roughly fit into the same mold – is to kid ourselves. But there are also some needs that are true for us all. I’m thinking of the need for food and water and shelter in the cold Canadian winter. But I’m also thinking of the need to feel like we have a place here in God’s world; that we aren’t just an accident, but that we belong. There are many people who have committed suicide even though they had ample food, water and shelter. Sadly, they have felt like others would be better off without them – that they just didn’t belong. At Alliston Christian School, there are lots of people with lots of special needs. But that one need – that one very common and important need – to feel like we belong, is a need we see in every student. That’s why our school is a Community of Belonging school.
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Something to discuss at the dinner table: The Bible takes place across three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe With about forty (40) authors over a span of 1,500 years; how can it be so consistent in its message? On the trivial side, Canada is an interesting place: Did you know… Each Canadian eats an average of 190 eggs per year. Canadians drink more fruit juice per capita than any other country.
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How would you respond to this observation? Deuteronomy 32:2 “Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.”
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Prayer Corner: Please pray for the salvation of Muslims. Consider adding this country to your family or personal prayers this week: Cuba.
Heavenly Father, Today I pray for the more than 100,000 legal orphans in foster care who wait for adoptive families. Connect them with “forever families.” Send Your angels to watch over them and keep them safe. Ignite a desire in families to make a difference for these children. Please protect all hurting children across this land. We also want to uphold any struggling families among us; You know them. Thank You for the way our students don’t just go for the minimum, but try to do their very best for You! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Heavenly Father, Today I pray for the more than 100,000 legal orphans in foster care who wait for adoptive families. Connect them with “forever families.” Send Your angels to watch over them and keep them safe. Ignite a desire in families to make a difference for these children. Please protect all hurting children across this land. We also want to uphold any struggling families among us; You know them. Thank You for the way our students don’t just go for the minimum, but try to do their very best for You! In Jesus’ name. Amen.