Appreciation
This week at our children’s school is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week.
Our kids attend Grace International School, a school founded by 4 mission organizations. Nearly every teacher and most of the administrative and support staff are themselves missionaries, serving at the school as a ministry to families like ours. The only exceptions are the national employees.
Each year as the school grows, the need for teachers grows as well. We the parents and students are taking this week to try to communicate how much we appreciate their obedient response to the Lord’s calling and direction to teach and serve at Grace International School. Every one of these men and women could be doing what they are doing anywhere, but they are here, serving our kids.
Thank you Grace teachers and staff for being here in Chiang Mai and using your gifts and talents here to honor God and serve us.
(There are many needs for the upcoming school year at Grace. Do you know anyone who could fill any of these needs? Can you? You can see them listed here.)
And let me tell you, we have wonderful teachers!
Zach’s 4th grade teacher
Scripture tell us that gratitude flows from the knowledge of God and glorifying Him. Ungratefulness is what we get when man is lifted up instead of God.
'because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful..
Rom 1:21'
We bless God and glorify Him by giving thanks to Him.
'Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be Thankful to Him, and bless His name.'
Psalms 100:4
So in the spirit of Teacher Appreciation week, I have my own thanks and appreciation to publically declare to the people God has blessed me with.
Thank you Greg, for being my wonderful husband, who loves me regardless of my loveabilty.
I appreciate they way you are eager to serve God where ever he leads us, even when I am afraid or unsure of where that may be or how it will look. Thank you for your desire to be a husband and father who seeks after God and His will for our family.
My Superhero, conquering cockroaches, crazy drivers, language barriers and spicy food
Leah, Ema and Zachary, I appreciate each one of you and thank God for giving me such treasures as you three. Thank you for trusting us as we trust God for our family’s direction and leading. We appreicate how you are growing in the knowledge of Him and learning to walk with Him by yourselves and not just by our side.
We are blessed to have a great number of people who are our partners, our team members, our undergirding as we are here in Thailand. For all you who pray for us, what a blessing you are. There are days when we struggle and feel so incompetent and unqualified to be at this end of taking the Gospel to those who need to hear, but we are encouraged and strengthened by your prayers and notes of encouragement. Thank you!
We are also humbled by all those who give to financially to enable to live here. It is a sacrifice we do not take lightly or forget. We appreciate your willingness to give so generously. Your giving blesses us and others. Thank you for being God’s means of provision for us.
My dear friends, C, K, M, M, P. You have made the effort to maintain our friendships although we are now far away. Your notes and emails and yes, even packages! show your love and care for us. We cannot tell you how much your families mean to us. Thank you for responding to the nudge of the spirit and writing or calling, even if it was not a convenient time. You have often ’spoken’ just the words we needs to hear at just the right time.
Our families. We have taken your grandchildren to the other side of the world, and us too, (although we know where we stand in that pecking order!) You are faithful to remember them at birthdays and special days and to stay connected and foster that very important relationship. Thank you for all the effort it takes and for not compounding the distance for the kids by complaining that they are not close to you. That means so much to us.
How about you?
Who do you need to show your thankfulness to? Let us praise God together by our thankfulness in all circumstances and for all things.
Who is in your life that you are so thankful for?
