Does your child have a specific bedtime routine? Each time that I have the opportunity to put my three-year-old granddaughter to bed, I am amazed by how predictable and consistent the sequence of events, leading up to the actual entrance into her bed remain. However, one extremely important part of this process is that she also has to have her “stuff” right next to her bed. These treasured possessions include: water bottle, toy cell phone, rock, toy truck, and wooden plaque that was gifted to her when she was born. In addition, each evening there is an extremely precious item selected from her collection that is featured and kept under her pillow! Sometimes, the prized item may be a small doll, magic marker, or book.

Imagine my daughter-in-law’s surprise when she woke up my granddaughter one morning and Emilia announced, “I have a ring under my pillow today!” Knowing she didn’t own any rings, my loving daughter-in-law was expecting a pretend ring so she played along and asked to see it. Imagine her shock when Emilia pulled back her pillow and there was my daughter-in-law’s engagement ring!

“Where did you get that?” Courtney quickly inquired, to which Emilia replied, “Off the bathroom counter.” Instantly, Courtney remembered taking off her ring the night before to give the kids their baths, and there it sat, until the local pick-pocketer spotted it!

Courtney asked, “So you just slept all night with my ring under your pillow?”

Emilia explained, “Oh I played with it for a little bit before I put it under my pillow!” We may never know what that statement entailed, but Courtney was thrilled that she still had her wedding ring!

You see, Emilia had no idea the importance or worth of the item that she placed under her pillow.

As Christians, sometimes we forget the worth of things, too.

Each day, God blesses us with so many precious gifts and treasures that we sometimes take for granted until we no longer have them. One eye injury can quickly make us treasure our vision. One difficult medical diagnosis can quickly make us appreciate our health. One unforeseen large expense can quickly make us appreciate our job. One basement flood can quickly make us appreciate insurance. The list can go on and on! Sometimes, like Emilia, we treat these things like a ring that came from the 25 cent gumball machine, when they actually have significant worth!

More importantly, each of us is a priceless creation of our Heavenly Father. We are His masterpieces, designed with individual purposes and intensions. Our value is significant in His eyes. Our worth does not come by who we are, but rather by whose we are! He loved us so much that He was willing to let His One and Only Son die on the cross to take away our sins.

This Lenten season, as we focus on Jesus' journey to cross, may you realize how much the Lord loves you and the great value you have as His beloved child.

In Jesus' Love,

Mrs. Palka

Fabulous Friday Parent Coffee Under Main Church Entrance 8:00-8:45 a.m.

Donuts With Pastors Resurrection Celebration 9:00 a.m. in back parking lot

Spring Break-No School

Virtual Online School for students in grades 1 - 8. Preschool and Kindergarten will be onsite for in-person learning

This has been such a challenging year of designing and implementing safety protocols as we strive to keep our staff and students as safe as possible during the COVID pandemic.

As the COVID cases in Michigan continue to be significant in number, we celebrate and praise God that we have been able to continue to offer in-person learning with minimal consequences.

However, just as with the Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations, we recognize that many families will visit with extended family members during the Easter holiday. As a precautionary and proactive measure, we have prayerfully discerned that the students in grades 1st through 8th will have school online for the week of April 6 - 9 as a way to safely "self isolate" the student body.

The school day will be designed in a similar fashion to a regular school day except virtually. Our plans are for school to resume in-person on April 12, and, God willing, we will remain in person for the remainder of the school year.

Due to the healthy statistics of preschool and Kindergarten aged children in the state of Michigan, St. Matthew Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten will remain in person unless the State of Michigan would mandate otherwise.

Our goal is to keep in-person instruction occurring as safely and frequently as possible, and we believe that these measures will positively assist us in these endeavors.

God is with us. He will guide us because we know, "There Is No Impossible With God!"

March is National Reading Month; as a result, we are going to have a little fun celebrating the gift of great literature.

Tomorrow, our cooks will prepare a special Dr. Seuss themed lunch including "green (or regular) eggs", sausage, fruit, and a bagel. Also, each grade level has established a weekly reading goal for the month of March. All students who meet that goal by Friday morning will be able to enter a drawing for a weekly prize! Have fun and keep reading!