Greetings in the name of Jesus:

Talk with any new mother or father, and inevitably these joy-filled, wide-eyed, slightly terrified parents will express their amazement at watching their baby grow and change day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year. Growth is probably the most obvious with infants because it is so rapid, but growth continues throughout childhood, teenage years, and even adulthood.

Ask any teacher what they enjoy about teaching and inevitably most will put near the top of the list: “watching the students grow.” It may not be on a day to day basis, but as the weeks and months go by, growth is observable, and it is noticed. Obviously, this is not just physical growth. Students also grow intellectually and emotionally.

At St. Mark Lutheran School, we too experience the joy of watching our students grow intellectually, emotionally, and physically. However, we are much more concerned with seeing another type of growth take place —spiritual growth.

Intellectual, emotional, and physical growth can be stunted through laziness, apathy, or destructive habits. On the other hand these areas of growth can be nurtured by hard work, careful attention, and a desire to grow. Through baptism and the learning of God’s Word, the seed of faith in Jesus, the only Savior from sin and death, has been planted. Like a plant, if faith is not watered and nurtured regularly, it too will wilt and eventually die.

In 2 Peter 3:18, Peter urges all Christians, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This is our theme for this school year. At St. Mark Lutheran School we spend much time, much hard work, and much careful attention to learning more and more about our Savior God from the Bible. It is our hope that we can instill in our students a constant desire to continue growing spiritually.

Why is this so important? Intellectual, emotional, and physical growth will serve us for a time as we live here on Earth. Faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior will last forever. For when our life on Earth is over, Jesus will take His flock to live with Him in the glories of heaven. For that, we praise Him, live our lives for Him, and strive to continue to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”