This week, our students are learning the names of their Eagle Pals. The older students, in grades 6 and up, write letters to their bright-eyed pals in grades 5 and below, who look up to them and watch their actions. Little ones are awestruck when a high schooler knows their name or offers them a high-five in the hallway. We pair these students together to purposefully foster community at OCS, but the benefits do not lean in one direction. Older students shoulder the responsibility of having younger eyes on them, watching them interact with each other and modeling their own reactions on what they’ve seen.
Parents are, in turn, modeling life for their children. More often than not, they will do as we do even if it contradicts what we say. Do your reactions to life’s circumstances bear evidence of the Spirit’s work in your heart or are they like bitter fruit from malnourished, thirsty soil? You see, you should not be the highest rung on this ladder of discipleship. You should also have someone “older” to follow, a pal who is a few steps ahead of you in this Christian journey.
Local churches provide the structure necessary for discipleship relationships so that you can look up to someone, watch their lives, and grow in your faith and knowledge of the Scriptures. If you are not part of a church, please consider visiting us at Ovilla Road Baptist Church this Sunday. We have Sunday school classes at 9:00 am for all ages that are going through Dane Ortlund’s Gentle and Lowly for the next several weeks. The worship service begins at 10:30 am.
The OCS Board, composed of the ORBC Elders, recently gifted a copy of Gentle and Lowly to OCS faculty and staff for the purpose of encouragement. Pick up a copy and dive into it with someone at your church. May you, together, discover how tender is the heart of Christ toward sinners and sufferers. He delights when you come to Him in repentance and in need of forgiveness.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
We want your family to flourish. We believe this happens best in the context of the local church, where parents learn to model the heart of Christ for their children to witness.
Penny Hayes, M.Ed.
Head of School
