Holiday Wishes To Our JU Family

Dec. 14, 2017

To our JU family,

What will your family do to celebrate this holiday season? 

As for us, we plan to gather, read, sing, eat, pray, laugh, worship, tell stories, reminisce, look ahead...

Above all, we plan to use the coming days as a time of reflection. I encourage you to consider doing the same whether you are a student, faculty member, administrator, parent, staff member, or alumni. Each of us need space to think and to nourish our hearts and minds. I believe it helps us grow.

My prayer of thankfulness includes many things, but always at the top of the list is family, access to quality education, safety and protection, and the well-being of our Jacksonville University students and community.

We believe in making the weeks surrounding the holidays a season of gratitude, and I try to use these moments to let people know how thankful I am that they’re in the life of my family and this University. My prayer of thankfulness includes many things, but always at the top of the list is family, access to quality education, safety and protection, and the well-being of our Jacksonville University students and community.

Allow me a brief observation: In recent years, the advent of more advanced communications tools—smart phones, social media, e-cards, texting—has led to some convenient detachment, perhaps even less authenticity in how we communicate with each other. I see it every day, not just November through January.

My hope is that you might make the effort to restore genuine face-to-face expression whenever possible. Let’s make this a season of thoughtfulness. Let’s build in some quiet for ourselves and for those we love. Let’s take time to ask ourselves, "Am I going in the direction I really want to go?”

In our home, this is also an occasion for remembering, inventing, discussing and creating. 

Few folks may know that many broader considerations are gently turned over and over during Winter Break, and it was around our family’s dining room table that concepts like the River House, EPIC, Charter Day, Renew Arlington, and others first took shape. 

So, please, find some space to think this season. More often than not, that’s when great ideas happen.

In closing, I hope the JU Family will take time to recharge over the days ahead, when no one expects you to show up at class or attend a meeting or make an event. Be safe. Have fun. Live and love well, and come back energized!

Sincerely,

Tim Cost
President
Jacksonville University
Class of 1981