...the joy of the Lord is your strength. -Nehemiah 8:10
JOY was the theme of the 2019-2020 school year at my children's PSD Lutheran school, and yesterday was the last day of school. We watched the last chapel of the year and drove through the school parking lot for the Socially Distant Last Day Parade of the 8th grade graduates and staff. Although these circumstances were far different than what was planned at the beginning of the year, there was so much JOY!
We had a ball waving goodbye to teachers and staff. There was music blasting, bubble machines going, and although their mouths were covered, we could tell that there were smiles of JOY under those masks. We saw pride and JOY in the 8th grade graduates' special parking spaces, where their families JOYfully supported them.
In the closing celebration chapel, you could see and hear the JOY of our pastor, administrators, and worship leader throughout the service. Our pastor shared that JOY is a gift of God! It is found in Jesus and how He loves us, and that JOY moves us to love one another.
Throughout the past two months, you -- our Lutheran schools -- have gone above and beyond to bring JOY to students and families. Thank you for bringing the JOY. Even when things are hard, there is always a reason for JOY!
Weeping may last through the night, but JOY comes with the morning.-Psalm 30:5
-Anna Preus, School Ministries Staff Assistant