𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗯𝗮'𝘀 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 – 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁. Although we already have our core principles, today we sat down with the founders to reflect on the school’s core values: Gratitude, Respect for All Life, Obedience to Truth, Wonder, Trustworthy Stewardship, and Hope. I love the idea that the founders anchored these values in the Word of God.

We were divided into small groups, which encouraged intimate discussions. Later, each group shared their insights in front of everyone.

Through the activity, I was humbled and reminded of God’s greatness — that I should be thankful for the little things and obey His Word. It was also heartwarming to see the school helpers, whom we call the “𝘬𝘶𝘺𝘢𝘴,” get involved in the discussion. What moved me most was their takeaway on the last core value: 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲.

𝐼𝑛𝑔𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑎, “𝑃𝑤𝑒𝑑𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑔-ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒?”

Listening to their report, 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘢 𝘬𝘰𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯. I thought, 𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘮 — 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯? 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘰 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘱𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘺. They were grateful that, for the first time, they were invited to hear the Word of God through the summit (because they usually start their work as early as 6 AM), and that they got to hear about the struggles of each of us — regardless of our position at school.

𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘢-𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘪 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢, 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭, kay 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Sometimes, we are blinded by the blessings we already have. 𝘔𝘢𝘨-𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢 𝘫𝘶𝘥 𝘵𝘢 𝘶𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨-𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦. Sometimes, we quench the Spirit. We really need to be intentional — 𝘶𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰’𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘢 𝘎𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.

Also, when we are grateful, we don’t feel anxiety, anger, or fear.

So thank you so much, The Abba’s Orchard School, for always making our work meaningful.