As we begin a new year, it is a natural time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new. It's a time that we all can pause and take assessment of our lives, our families, health, finances, habits, activities, and overall journey in life. While we shouldn’t limit this to the turn of the calendar, we would all do well to pause more often and think about our lives, our priorities, and our faith. In truth, we all build our lives around our priorities–even when they are unspoken. Does God look and see that we build our lives, our families, our homes around loving and following Him? Does He see that we work faithfully to ensure every aspect of our lives match the wisdom and guidance we find in His word? Or are our lives built around the pursuit of money, possessions, status, pleasure, and other temporal things? A new year always creates an opportunity to reflect and set ourselves firmly in the right direction for the future.
I’m reflecting on our school today, as well. It is amazing to realize we are in the middle of our 15th year. God has been so very faithful to Legacy Academy. We are totally dependent upon His faithfulness. One of the things that makes Legacy Academy special is that we are NOT just a private school–we truly are a Christ-centered school. I feel like the most important job we have at the school is ensuring that all we do is pleasing to the Lord. Of course, we are imperfect as people, with me being the chiefest of the imperfect! Yet, we understand that it isn’t enough to be just another school with uniforms, rigorous academics, and small class sizes. These things are benefits but creating an environment with a sincere desire to love and follow Christ that really matters. We are a Christ-centered school, not just a private school. It makes us different and we are unapologetically different. I Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people…” Jesus remarked in his prayer in John 17:16 this about His disciples, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
We are joyfully different. We know that “different” isn’t always welcomed by the world or even by many who claim to be Christians. Yet, as followers of Christ our lives are to truly be different. We must be different and actually live differently than the world lives. We value what they don’t and we disdain what they love. As a school we want to create an environment where children can discover God’s love for them and develop a true Christ-centered worldview. We also want to encourage them to devote themselves to Christ, to live pure and upright lives, and to be confidently and securely different from a world that entices them away from God but really only desires to ensnare and destroy them. As a school, we don’t always achieve these things perfectly and sometimes even fumble in our efforts to achieve it. We are always learning and always growing to find how we best implement these things with our students. We must be flexible and willing to change and adjust as we go and we regularly have to learn from each new step and from our mistakes, but behind these efforts you can trust that there is a heart posture that wants to build Christ in each of our students and honor God in all of our ways.
We live in unprecedented times and in a world that, just as the Bible foretells, is growing darker. Sin is glorified and celebrated and everything seems fraught with crisis. The economy is troubled and the global pandemic continues to linger. Yet, in times when wickedness increases and the world is more foolish than ever, followers of Christ can feel safe. We can live securely, without fear or anxiety. We can rest and trust because He is still the same (Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.”) He’s trustworthy when politicians are not. He’s steady and dependable when the economy falters, He’s our hope when circumstances seem hopeless. He hasn’t changed. His promises to HIs own remain the same.
As a new year begins and Legacy Academy takes its first steps into 2022, we aim afresh to try and please Him. We want to create a joyful, happy, safe environment for your children that is always Christ-centered. In the new year, we will continue to learn and grow and change together. We will become better administrators and teachers. Our promise is that we will continue to partner with you to help your children discover the best version of themselves–which is always found in God’s will and when we walk in His ways. We will aim to provide your students structure, discipline, respect, and excellence. We will do this while also loving them, caring for them, and showing them kindness, mercy, and our unwavering support.
As we begin a new year, we look back on the years of faithfulness and grace God has granted us and look forward to the joys of a new semester, new memories, new traditions, new fun, new milestones, and a new 2022! No matter how crazy the world gets, we will not worry or fear because our lives are safe in Him. Let this be the year we all truly make following and serving Christ the true focal point of our lives and the sincere center of our families. We are grateful for each of you and your students and look forward to the wonderful times ahead.
Happy New Year,
Mr. Gallagher
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