Dear Parents,

Many of you are undoubtedly aware of the tragic death of Kobe Bryant that occurred this past weekend, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. He was one of those individuals who always appeared larger than life, as both a basketball legend and pop culture icon. Despite his well-documented failures of character, he was well regarded in most circles and seemingly on top of the world in his retirement. All this ended in the blink of an eye.

When I think about what happened, I’m reminded of James 4:14 which says:  “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”  It’s hard to understand why life can seemingly be cut short, especially in the case of a young girl of 13 years of age who had such a bright future, both in basketball and life in general. Many suggested that she had the pedigree to completely change the game of women’s basketball and possessed skills similar to her father. We will never know what could have been.

While Kobe certainly left a lasting imprint on the basketball court and was as hardworking as they come, I do not know where he was at in terms of his spiritual life and impact. I do know that he was trying to shape the life of his daughter around his passion, which is why they were headed to her tournament that morning. He was fully invested in her future and helping her become all she could be. 

I know that as parents, we too want what is best for our children and are fully invested in helping them become what God created them to be. That’s why you have chosen to put them into a private, Christian school. The legacy that I hope we will all pass down to our children is the importance of a surrendered life to Christ. Matthew 16:25 “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” No matter what gifts and talents they have, I pray that they will place it in the hands of our heavenly father so that it can be used for His glory.

Sincerely,
J-D Lussier, Principal