Yesterday we spent our Saturday (and one of Lee’s few non-call weekends) working most of the day. I have traditionally felt bad about spending weekends working, because Lee has limited time at home and I’d like the children to actually have fun and enjoy their dad when he’s home. I know all the Type A mothers have an instant response all ready to type into the keyboard, but my learning path is perhaps a bit different. Have patience with me as I’m figuring life out, okay?
One of the things I admire most about my husband’s family is their work ethic. When a job needs to be done, it gets done right away. If someone needs to be called on the phone, that phone call is made right away, before it is forgotten (do you see why this is challenging to me?). I’d love for our children to learn this work ethic, but there’s a problem.
The biggest problem is that I do not always demonstrate a biblical attitude about work. Contrary to what some believe, work is not a curse or part of the curse. God gave Adam work long before he sinned in the Garden of Eden. Solomon tells us that work, its results, and the enjoyment of that work, is a gift from God. God created us to find satisfaction in working hard.
Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:18-19
I usually think of work as something to be endured, not something to actually enjoy. However, I do recognize that there is great satisfaction in completing a difficult or overwhelming task. I’d like to do better remembering this attitude, rather than avoiding work until it’s necessary. And as I think through work biblically, isn’t that a good thing to do as a family on the weekends? Isn’t it good for our children to enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done, to enjoy the fellowship as we work together, to enjoy the rest when we’re done? I think so. Don’t worry, we’ll still go hiking together, we’ll still work on model airplanes and play catch. Lee will still have time to relax. But I want to make sure that I do not forget how satisfying hard work can be.
Interesting to think about…that work isn’t necessarily all because of the curse. My kids have varying work ethics. lol The most recent motivation/instruction I’ve been promoting to the child who’d rather read all day is doing your chores because it’s showing love to the family…part of living in a community. I’m always checking and re-checking my own motives for teaching the children to clean/work/pick-up. It’s tough not to fall into either laziness or pride…!
I’ve been thinking about your comments for awhle. I can see the laziness or pride when things don’t happen the way I want them to. If my goal truly is Christlikeness and teaching my children to love others, I tend to respond differently than if my own desires have not been met.