Labor Day Thoughts

Jean Francois Millet (1814-1875)

Man was always meant to work even in the Garden of Eden. All honest work is a noble endeavor.
God never meant for "labor" to be onerous. Think of bringing in the harvest with ease and pleasure instead of "by the sweat of the brow."

I can imagine what that is like. On a cool day I can don my bee suit and go out to "work the hives" and every minute is a pleasure. To see the bees dancing on the landing board, poking their heads into the cells to clean them out, carrying out the dead bees and busy about all the jobs necessary to keep the colony healthy and thriving.


Wouldn't it be great to work and not grow weary, but instead to look forward to the next job on the to-do list with a light heart -- to not be burdened by work, but energized?

The most important work is what Paul talks about in Galatians. "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9) And that is what the corporal and spiritual "works" of mercy are all about. Today I'm going over for nursing home visit, a "work" that is always a joy. After that my "work" will be playing. I promised one granddaughter to play "swap" Jack and Go Fish. An older granddaughter likes Kings in the Corners and I expect to be outside pushing a two-year-old on the swing. A Grandma's work truly shows what work in the Garden of Eden was meant to be -- pleasure and play and gathering in.

I hope your Labor Day is filled with family and fun and work that is pure joy!

O LORD, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions. Psalm 104