God\’s gift – A letter from Mr. Retzer
This week we celebrate the gift of salvation and reconciliation that God has given us by virtue of the voluntary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This gift is totally by God’s grace and is nothing we have earned and there is nothing we can add.
It is my hope that as you contemplate this gift that you realize this momentary discomfort we have by living in isolation is nothing in comparison to the agony Jesus endured on our behalf because He loves us so deeply.
The situation
The COVID-19 virus has made me feel vulnerable. I am nearing 66 years old, I am a Type 2 diabetic, I take immunotherapy medication to suppress my immune system to control my psoriatic arthritis and I have had triple bypass open-heart surgery. I am a prime potentially fatal target person for this virus.
Yet I continue to have joy in living and working here at ACA during this time. Yes, it is stressful to be working in your house 10-14 hours per day, 6 days a week to help our students to continue to gain their education at home instead of school. But my joy is in what I continue to do to pour into the lives of all of our ACA students.
The goal
I love our kids, all of them, PK-12. I love them no matter how they act or react, no matter if they excel academically or are a challenge, no matter if they happen to get in trouble a bit…I love them and I miss seeing them very much.
I will close with this quote, Matthew 22:37-40 – And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Conclusion
If we do these two things – Love God and love each other, we will be doing all God requires of us. Take this week to show your love to ALL of the people with whom you come in contact. That will give you true joy more than any new clothes, new car new house, great vacation, good food or any other external “happiness” can provide. External things that bring happiness are temporary. Joy is internal and is rooted in our love and devotion toward our God.
God bless you and keep you!
Marvin Retzer
General Director
