16 Nov A Word From Dr. Satterly—November 16, 2023
Dear WA Community,
In much of our nation, November brings fall. In South Florida, November brings snowbirds. Technically, we have fall too, but instead of colorful leaves, we mark the end of hurricane season. Regardless of location, November contains my favorite holiday—Thanksgiving! I appreciate Thanksgiving because it is a low-pressure holiday. One doesn’t have to purchase the perfect gift, listen to carols, and argue about the best Christmas movie. Instead, Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy the company of family and friends. It provides an opportunity to eat too much, take a nap, and catch some football. With few expectations, this holiday comes at just the right time.
More importantly, the holiday’s name—Thanksgiving—provides the instruction for a proper attitude and perspective. It literally presses us to think and talk about the blessings in our lives. One might rightly ask, “to whom is this thanks to be given?” While it must certainly be so that each of us has many others to rightly express our thanks, let us begin our reflection in the right spot. I Chronicles 16:34 tells us, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” The psalmist exhorts, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
First and foremost, our thanks belongs to God. From Him comes all things. Secondly, this season is a wonderful time to offer a word of thanks to those God has placed in your life. Such a word is often a blessing to the recipient and is good for the soul. Perhaps the words from an old hymn will help… “Count your blessings, count them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done.”
At Westminster Academy, we have many blessings to count. Just a sampling from our most recent days attest to that. We gathered as a school community to thank and honor our veterans. Our students heard a powerful testimony from civil rights leader Dr. Alveda King. We have witnessed and celebrated gifts and talents on the athletic field and on the performance stage. Westminster experienced amazing generosity during our Annual Fund Week, and Homecoming was such an incredible weekend. God has given us this place, and we give thanks.
Over the last several weeks, we have hosted several school leaders from outside of our community on campus. They have remarked on the evident sense of community, the commitment to our mission, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the attitude of our students. For this too, we give thanks because we know that these things come from God as well. We are blessed, and we are thankful.
To God be the Glory!
Dr. Joel Satterly
Headmaster