Labor Day Activities
- - -
Reflecting on the Blessings of Work,
and the Need for Gratitude.

There are many activities that one can do on the Labor Day holiday and weekend.


For many of us in the northern hemisphere - Labor Day is the unofficial ending of summer, and summer activities. It comes at a time many of us are going back to school, back to work.


Our ability to work, and the different skills we do have to work, and the income, rewards, and success we have in working, are all special gifts from God.


We ought to show and tell God our appreciation for these gifts - and ask His continued blessings on all our work.

Labor Day is a good time to do this.

Reflections on Work

Work was never meant to be a punishment, or hard to do.

In the beginning, in the garden of Paradise, God gave Adam several jobs, to name the animals, and tend the garden.

Work is a beautiful thing, and was meant to be fulfilling and rewarding.

It's only when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, that work became hard. Adam would have to work by the sweat of his brow. Eve would have pain in child-bearing.

Work became a necessity to live. It also is a good way to repair the damage of sin by supporting ourselves and helping others.


Prayer is One of the Best Labor Day Activities

One of the best ways to observe Labor Day is to spend some time early in the day talking to God. It's called prayer.

Ask God for his protection. There are so many dangers in the world and in our workplace and homes, we truly need his blessings and the protection of his holy angels.

Especially, let us thank God for his blessings and protection.

• It is a blessing to develop our abilities through work.
• It is a blessing to serve God and others by using our abilities.
• It is a blessing to receive the fruit of our labors, not only to make a living in this life, but also to receive an eternal reward - forever in heaven.

When You Have No Work

What happens when you are out of work, have no job and no income?

1. Pray for blessings and guidance. Prayer is a very important work. God knows that working on the salvation and sanctification of your soul may be more important right now than you having a job.
2. Seek the guidance of good and Godly mentors.
3. Look for work. Or it may be time to consider getting new skills and training in a new line of work.

Put Yourself to Work

In the meantime, we can always put ourselves to work. There is always work to do to serve God and others. We can volunteer, take up gardening, start our own business, and work around the home and do odd jobs while praying and looking for income-producing work. Many a business started from side jobs or part-time work.

Work is so important, that if we don't do our daily work on a regular basis, it's easy to become lazy, and it becomes harder and harder to get back to work, the more we develop the bad habit of not working.


When You Are Disabled or Unable to Work

About 10 % of the world's population has disabilities.

Even if we have a disability, we still have work to do. There are some people with severe disabilities who cheer up and encourage those around them. Some are motivational speakers.

Even if we are sick, bed-ridden, laid up in a hospital, we still have work we can do. We can say prayers and offer our sufferings to the Good Lord to help others get to heaven.

Remember that the primary work of the Church is intercessory prayer.

Even before going out and preaching at the time of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the group of about 120 followers of Jesus spent 10 days united together in prayer.


The Importance of Diligence

In the Book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible, we read, "Do you see a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings ..." (Proverbs 22:29)

Today, this may not seem possible, because we don't have kings. Yet we do have rulers and leaders and employers, and by being diligent, we can get a raise in position or income.

And even if this should not happen in our lifetime here on earth, let us be reminded that by being faithful and diligent, we are serving the King of kings, who can raise our position and give rewards that last forever in heaven.


The Beauty and Blessings of Work

When I was in second grade, we 3 boys - me and my 2 older brothers - would argue over who had to do what chores.

Every Friday after school, one of us had to vacuum. Another had to sweep the stairs. And the third one had to sweep and mop the kitchen floor. It didn't matter who did what, we had to figure it out and get it done.

The easiest and fastest chore was sweeping the stairs. My brothers would walk home faster from school and get the easier jobs, leaving the hardest job for me. Of course, I never remembered when it was Friday.

One time we were arguing about who does what. Mom sat us down on the couch in the living room, and read to us from a picture book for about 45 minutes to an hour. We were not happy, because it meant we would have even less time to play after the chores were done.

This book had stories how everyone has to work. The cow has to eat, chew her food, to give us milk. The bird has to build a nest, hatch the eggs, and then feed it's young. Many animals have to work hard to catch their food and protect their young.

We got half way through the book, and then did our chores.

Some weeks later, Mom caught us boys again arguing about our chores. Mom sat us down and read to us the rest of the book.

• Farmers and grocers have to work or we won't eat.
• Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, had to work hard as a simple poor carpenter to support his family.
• Mary, Jesus' mother, had to work hard to keep house, make bread, get water, mend clothes.
• Even Jesus had to do the work of his Father, and do what his mother and father told him to do.

Jesus himself grew up learning the carpenter trade, and later became a preacher of the Good News from heaven.

Work is a duty, and when performed well, it becomes a blessing.


Work Well, Rest Well

Work well in the day, you can rest well at night.

Work well all week, you can look forward to the Day of Rest on the weekend.

Work well all your life, you can look forward to Eternal Rest.

Thank your stars!


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