March 18, 2010
In keeping with Heartland Christian Academy’s theme of “bearing fruit that remains,” we have been examining together the spiritual fruit God has been producing in our students over the years, including those listed in Galatians: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Last week we also looked at honesty and integrity, personal responsibility, a healthy and humble self-worth, and a desire for personal excellence.
This week, let’s look at some of the other long-term qualities that I have seen developed in our students in these recent years that I have served as principal. As I suggested last week, these are qualities that do not apply only to children but will, if our school is truly successful, be fruit that remains into adulthood.
Because we have a quality physical education program, as well as teachers committed to biblical principles for health, well-being and the honoring of our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, I see students being developed who are not only “comfortable in their own skin,” but committed to healthy habits that will someday turn into an adult lifestyle.
Unless the weather is too cold or wet for man or beast, Heartland students are eager to play outside. Children are not encouraged to just sit and watch, but participate in both planned and unplanned recreation. Whether it is on the skating rink or the soccer field or the archery range, children are encouraged to appreciate their bodies and see what they can do. Our motivation is not just to be generally healthy, but for boys and girls to enjoy the body that has been created especially for them by God. Some are athletically gifted, and many are not, but all are encouraged to see what their growing bodies can do today that they could not do last month.
And what they can do is amazing: we use the Presidential Physical Fitness program at Heartland, and I would challenge any area school to demonstrate the same percentage of students who are successful in achieving award status for physical fitness. I believe that this achievement grows directly from the biblical attitude of appreciation for the gift of our bodies.
The fruit of this commitment to lifelong physical fitness and appreciation for God-given health is also seen in the student’s attitude to substance abuse, including drugs, alcohol and nicotine. They seem to understand that life can be enjoyed without these things, and that they are responsible for what they put into their bodies.
Again, I see this positive fruit of a healthy perspective on their bodies as our little boys and girls enter the middle school grades and begin the physical, mental and emotional transformation into young men and women. I see a real acceptance of their own gender as well as the opposite sex and the changes that they see happening. It is a pleasure to witness the mutual honoring and respect that our teenage boys and girls offer to each other. I believe that this wonderful fruit of Godliness in relationships will stay with them long after they find the life-mate that God has planned for them.
Our program today is sponsored by a new friend of Heartland Focus, G-Force Consulting of Bemidji, which specializes in electric and hybrid vehicles. Visit them at g-forceconsulting.com.