Labor

According to the United States Department of Labor website...

“Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

To be honest, I’ve never really celebrated Labor Day as defined above. I simply thought of it as another one of those annoying and meaningless holidays when banks are closed and there’s no mail.

But this year I’m feeling differently. For a couple of reasons. Number one, I got a promotion at work recently. I’m now being trained in to be the new MLC Bookstore Manager. Up to this point, most of the jobs I’ve held were lacking in either significance or prestige. Or both. But for the first time in my life, I feel like I can answer the question, “What do you do?” without feeling embarrassed by my answer. Or at least I assume this will be the case once my new title is official (Oct. 1) and once someone asks me this question.

The second reason I’m enjoying this Labor Day Holiday like never before, is that I’ve been working a lot lately. I’ve put in between 5 and 9 hours a day August 20^th to August 31^st. And even over the weekend there were a few loose ends I had to tie up, (emails to write, people to see) leaving work duties forefront in my thoughts.

I know it sounds like I’m complaining, but really I’m not. It's likely most of you put in more hours than that each week. But this is a new thing for me. The last time I worked full-time I was home from college, working a summer job. And now, nearly 30 years and 4 babies later, I’m excited to finally have what I consider a real job. It’s challenging and interesting. And it’s keeping me humble too. I’ve so much to learn. But I’m willing and eager to keep at it until I figure out everything a bookstore manager needs to do and how to do it. And I’m prayerful that the Lord will assist and guide me down this new uncharted and at times overwhelming path. In short, I’m not afraid of hard work. I enjoy it.

A few months ago it was pointed out to me that when God gave his people the Commandment to keep the Sabbath Day holy, it wasn’t just a command to rest on the 7^th day of the week. It was a command to work for 6, and then rest on the 7^th. 

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Exodus 20:8

God has given us what we need to work. In the simplest of terms:  a body, a mind, and time. He wants us to use these gifts and WORK. We are blessed when we do. Work is a good thing. 

But God knows we need rest too. So this commandment, like all of his commandments, isn’t a rule to be obeyed grudgingly. It’s the will of our loving Father, who knows what ‘s best for us. We need time to rest, and time to remember why we work. 

So I am celebrating this Labor Day with an attitude of gratitude for my new job, and for a day off to reflect on how good God has been to me. 

I hope you are celebrating it likewise.

 If not, perhaps this song will help.