“Relationships Matter!” This is a message that I heard recently on a radio ad for a bank. The point that the bank was trying to make is that you should want to have a relationship with the person or institution that is holding or managing your money. This same point is also very true for our ministry at the high school. As the Admissions Director at MLHS, building relationships is a large part of my job. My goal is to reach out and create relationships throughout our federation and in our community in order to share the tremendous blessings MLHS has to offer, giving parents the confidence that they are making the best choice for their children’s education and spiritual well-being. Lutheran High’s Christ-centered education is not only a high quality education, but it also contains priceless worth that goes well beyond this life here on earth and into eternity.
Colossians 2:2-3 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Part of my job is getting to know all of the Lutheran grade school students. I greatly enjoy getting to know each of the students’ unique personalities. At the same time, it is a challenge to remember 1,000+ names! In fact, sometimes I need to meet a student multiple times before I remember their name. It’s in these times that I marvel about our all-knowing God. A gospel promise I think of often is from Isaiah 43:1 where it says “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” What a comfort knowing that each of us has a personal relationship with our Savior. Not only does He know us by name, but He loves and cares about us enough to save all of us from our sins. And someday, we will be with Him in heaven. So even though I may forget names every once in a while, I take comfort knowing God will never forget our names.
The idea that “Relationships Matter” applies to our everyday lives as well. God has given us various relationships as blessings in our lives. As we work on building relationships at home, with friends, at work or school, we thank God for the guidance He has given us in His Word.
Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.
Ephesians 5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly love children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.
Praise God for the gift of MLHS, for the gift of relationships and for the gift of our loving God who knows each one of us by name.