Dear Sonrise Family,
Do you get more excited about beginnings or endings? I personally love them both but my heart is always stirred up more when something begins. Whether it's the beginning of a Dodger game, a movie, a wedding ceremony, a new friendship or even a new school year, I seem to find myself happier. Endings can be wonderful or sometimes filled with sadness but I know that our Father in heaven always lines our sadness with His love and turns everything to good.
Earlier this year was the beginning of my daughter's married life. The wedding was amazing and filled with so much love and genuine joy. As the festivities approached the conclusion stages, my heart sank knowing that my baby girl was no longer mine to care for in the ways I've been her dad for all these years to her. Yes, I will always love and care for her but she was now handed over to her husband to be the primary one to care for her and I couldn't help but feel sad in having to let her go. In reality though, I wasn't letting her go to her husband but honestly trusting the Lord with her life and peace became the predominant emotion, which always leads me right back to joy. God is so good!
After 34 faithful years, Lori Kilmuray is retiring from Sonrise. It may be a warm day in June when she packs up her desk on the last day but tears will be raining knowing she won't be there as we've grown to expect her loving service to all of us for so long. Again, sad to see her time at Sonrise ending but God reminds us that His family in Sonrise, but more importantly Christ, means we will continue to spend time together and the love and depth of our relationships will only become stronger over time. We are so grateful for Lori's service but even more excited about the new adventures that await her as God allows her to tour His beautiful world.
For 56 incredible years Sonrise has had preschool through 8th grade programs and now for the very first time, high school begins. A tremendous amount of time, energy and work is going into the creation of this new component and we enter this stage with faith in knowing no matter how difficult it may be, God will be honored and glorified and more importantly, the students in Sonrise Christian High School will be even more prepared for their future in 4 years when their high school window closes.
God authors our stories and we are so blessed with many beginnings and many endings. I pray each of us cherishes all the value in both and that we trust God with everything. As this school year is about to wrap up, summer begins and we fully expect God's blessing to continue through each day. I look forward to seeing you soon, perhaps on the first day of school. Know that you are loved with all of my heart because "He loved us first." (1 John 4:19)
Love and blessings,
Mr. Patel