| Dear Parents, Are there things that are weighing you down, causing you stress, or even leading you to feel anxious? If you are similar to the average Canadian, chances are that you answered this question in the affirmative. According to CAMH (Canadian Association of Mental Health), 25% of Canadians reported suffering from anxiety and this percentage went up to 33.5% among adults between the ages of 18 to 39 years old. |
| School aged children are not immune to this either, as “Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for children and adults, affecting upwards of 20% of children and adolescents over the lifespan” based on findings from Anxiety Canada. Even the Spiritual Leaders that we look up to are also feeling the affects of the pressures of our culture with up to 75% of pastors report being “extremely stressed” or “highly stressed” according to Soul Shepherding. While we all deal with stress and experience anxiety on differing levels, it is worth pausing to consider the state of our Mental Health and examine how it impacts our daily lives. This is part of what we did this morning during our chapel time. The good news is that God also provides us with some great advice in His word. As someone who is fully human, Jesus knows that we experience anxious thoughts and carry difficult things. This is the backdrop for both Matthew 10:29-31 and Luke 12:27-28 where he uses examples from nature to illustrate how God cares for the sparrows and the lilies by feeding and clothing them. As our Creator, He values us much more than birds and plants. He wants us to remember that and let go of our worries and the burdens that we try to carry on our own. In exchange, He offers us His peace. Perhaps this is where you find yourself today and the questions that I asked our students, staff, and pastors feel particularly relevant to you as well: What worry do you need to let go of today? What do you need to let God carry for you? May you experience God’s peace this day and in the weeks to come. Blessings, J-D Lussier, Principal |
