Dear Hill Country Families,

This time of year naturally turns our hearts toward gratitude. Thanksgiving leads us gracefully into the season of Advent, where we rejoice in the birth of Jesus, the greatest gift of all. Our hearts turn toward gratitude for our blessings, including the Hill Country Christian School community we share.

I’ve been an empty nester for a few years now, and I cannot express the joy of having a full house during Thanksgiving break. My quiet home suddenly sounded like an airport terminal, and honestly, I loved every loud, joyful minute of it. I was reminded how quickly an empty nest can turn into a hotel, and as the owners, my dear husband and I became housekeeping, concierge services, and kitchen staff for our guests, answering questions like where the extra towels went, how to reset the breaker for overloaded power outlets, and whether anyone knew the Wi-Fi password. With people in every nook and cranny, the noise, warmth, hustle and bustle, and laughter filled my cup.

On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we filled up an entire row at church. I looked down the row and thanked God for the moment. As my heart swelled with pride, someone in the middle of the row whispered they needed to use the restroom right at the beginning of the sermon. Of course they did! On Thanksgiving Day, we hosted 19 friends and family members. We had a very full kitchen and three tables full of laughter and conversation. This ended with full sofas, chairs, and outdoor seats around the fire pit. Needless to say, our hearts were as full as our bellies.

The same experiences in my home naturally spill over into the fullness I see every day at school. What does gratitude look like on campus? It’s a lunchroom full of chatter, smiles, friendships, and a floor full of Cheeto crumbs and squished grapes. It’s a full hallway where backpacks somehow grow twice their size and stick out just far enough to trip an unsuspecting principal. It looks like a recess field where at least three soccer balls are going at once, and everyone seems confident about which one they’re playing. The classrooms are full of quick, curious minds and the teachers who love them. It’s a full chapel assembly where students are lifting their hands and singing praises to their King. These things leave me with immense gratitude for a career where I get to witness this daily.

I can’t help but think that all of this mirrors the joy God feels as His people gather. Imagine heaven full of believers worshipping Him, and how that will make Him swell with pride and gratitude for us. Just like we see our homes and our school full of imperfect moments of joy, He sees his creation and finds joy in us. “…He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). What a beautiful reason for our hearts to overflow with gratitude.

It’s easy to feel grateful when our homes and hearts are full during the holiday season, but what if it were a daily practice? What if we gave thanks for times when we’re overwhelmed and annoyed, as well as the times when we’re full of joy and delight? May our hearts be grateful in all things, and may we reflect His goodness in all that we do.

Grateful to be in the middle with you,

Jill Bayer, Middle School Principal