Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whanau,

I read recently that Kiwis spend in excess of 23 hours watching television per week, and that doesn’t take into account the time spent on devices. The article also noted that if you spend on average two and a half hours watching television every day, that by the time you are 80 years old you will have spent eight years of your life watching television. Sobering statistics aren’t they. It also makes you reflect on your own use of time and how we prioritise things in our lives. It begs the question: what are your priorities in life? Often this will be reflected by how you spend your time.

God's Word advises us to use our time wisely because He knows that there are many things in life that can distract us from what truly matters. We need to be wise and not waste our time so that we don’t look back with regret.

Ephesians 5:15-17 gives us some wonderful advice as follows:

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.17 Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.

In Proverbs 6:6-8 we also read: 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

These verses remind us to be good stewards of our time and to prioritise how we spend our time so that we put God first in all things.

May our Lord bless us and guide us in the days and weeks ahead as we seek to serve Him and strive to keep Him first and foremost in our lives.

Blessings

Mike Vannoort

Principal