I have found myself talking and thinking a lot about grass lately.
With soccer season in full swing and some persistent drizzle and pockets of rain over the last few weeks, our ovals have been getting a serious workout. Grass and its current condition has, perhaps unsurprisingly, become a keen topic of conversation. With seventeen soccer teams training and playing, we have some high use oval facilities.
Although our water-logged ovals are not necessarily a great example of it at the moment, I do enjoy a well-maintained piece of grass. Whether it is a park, an oval, or just a nice backyard lawn, there is something refreshingly satisfying about the view and the space. It gives a sense of the beauty of Psalm 23 when it describes the Lord leading us to “lie down in green pastures”.
“As parents we can sometimes skim over the written words of a report”
Those of you who are keen (or begrudging) gardeners would also know the satisfying sense of order that a freshly-mown lawn gives to a garden. That feeling that care and attention has been given to a space. For keen sports watchers, seeing the grass courts of Wimbledon at this time of year or cricket ovals from the recent World Cup are pictures of the joy of a nice piece of turf!
If you are the resident lawn-mower in your family, you would also know that there are definite seasons to the lawn. Times when it feels like you are mowing every week and the grass just keeps on growing and other times when you can leave it for a month or more with little visible impact. Some like to leave their lawns to brown naturally over summer, others spend time keeping the water up to a precious piece of lawn that has received an investment of time and energy. As we release our end of term reports, they are a reminder of the growth of our children and the seasons of schools. They reflect many hours of tending to the growth of our young people.
As parents we can sometimes skim over the written words of a report, perhaps not realising the investment of time and careful thought that goes into teacher reflections. As we read them, we will become aware that at times, teachers have needed to keep the water and feed up to the patch of lawn in their care, at others, our students have blossomed, with little work but with some gentle direction required.
Jesus likens God to a gardener in the book of John, pruning and tending to the vine, encouraging strong and healthy growth. As our children grow and learn in all of the areas of their academic, physical and spiritual lives, we work as parents and school seeking to nurture and direct their growth, encouraging strong and healthy development. As you enjoy some less pressured time with your children over the holidays, I hope that you will take time to read the reflections of the teachers who have been caring for your child and their education. May you enjoy some quite repose in the midst of the beautiful growth that God is directing in your children.
Scott Ambrose - Principal