My dad is in his early 80s now and still an active and usually quite healthy guy. Last year, he caught Influenza A and it really impacted him greatly. He had been walking and exercising regularly, mowed a large lawn and maintained a considerable tropical garden up in Townsville. Then the Influenza really hit him hard. He was constantly achy, had to take medication to control his temperature and was completely sapped of energy. He spent many days in bed, barely able to get up and go to the bathroom. When I visited him a while after, he said to me, “There were days when I just didn’t want to get out of bed and the only reason I did was to pick up the leaves that the palm trees dropped. I knew there would be so many to pick up if I didn’t.” Then he said something really interesting, “Those leaves gave me a purpose – something to aim to.”

Purpose is such an important thing. The why of what we do. We have our mission and purpose for what we are doing here at Prescott Primary Northern and that is to provide a balanced educational program in a caring, Christian environment by preparing the mind for truth, the hands for service and the heart for heaven. It’s great to have this to give meaning and direction to what it is that we do each day. But have you wondered what messages we send to our children about their purpose for doing what we ask them to do each day? How many times have I been in a Year 8 or 9 or 10 class and the teenagers have been honest enough to say, “Why do we have to learn this?” Or our 3 or 4 year old continuing to ask why?, why? why? It has been my experience that we can answer with words or explanations about the purpose of what we asking and that can help or at least placate for a while, but the best answer we can give our young people is to live and model what it means to have a purpose and deeper meaning in why we do things. I have learned that kids are far more perceptive than we give them credit for about these things.

If there is one thing about showing kids what purpose is about, I think it is to demonstrate the importance of purpose being for others. It is so natural to plan something, do something, achieve something for myself. The real depth of purpose, however, comes when we realise the importance of tying our sense of purpose to the good of others. It is no accident that Respect is the first of our school values. Next week, I would like to share a story with you that may help illustrate the importance of having our purpose greater than ourselves and sharing that with our children.

A wise person once wrote “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” Proverbs 20:5.

Have a great week with your kids,

Mark B