We are well into our second semester of the school year. First semester report card grades were submitted, and narrative evaluations written. Though I only have 36 students in Grades 6-8, writing those comments always seems a daunting task. Thankfully, we limit the scope of comments to a few sentences concerning academic progress (or lack thereof, unfortunately). Len, then, as Secondary Head, must read and review every comment written by both middle school and high school teachers. All in all, that’s a lot of words.

But having to write and read comments forces us to sit and reflect on each individual student for a time. And we ask ourselves, “How well do we know them? Who are they, really? What struggles do they deal with each day, at school and outside school, that affects their academics?” These middle school years are HARD. It’s a time of growth, doubt, insecurity, discovering your identity, peer pressure, anxiety, happiness and sometimes deep sadness.

Our students are so much more than the sum totals of their grades in my class, in any class. But some find their identity in those grades. Some honestly don’t care, but others will read teacher comments and take them to heart, positive or negative. So, we write carefully, prayerfully. There’s power in those words, in the words we speak to them each day in and out of class, in the words their classmates speak to and about them.

“The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

(Proverbs 18:21, NIV)

In the face of a daily barrage of “likes/dislikes”, how can we help them see who they really are?  How can we enable them to understand how truly valuable and loved they are?

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!”

(1 John 3:1, NIV)

This is the incredible privilege we have while serving at a Christian school in Albania. We can share with our students the unconditional love of God. We can invite them into a relationship with their Father who loves them no matter what. We can help them understand His grace that meets their deepest needs.

Oh, that their hearts would be open to hear and embrace His love!

Please pray for us and for our students. Pray especially for Middle School Retreat coming up February 20–22. Those few days away from school are such an opportunity for hearts to be transformed and lives to be surrendered to Jesus! Pray God’s Word shared through messages and small group times would bear much fruit!

Thank you for partnering with us in all we do!