Embracing and Promoting Work

For years I have tried to break out of the cultural norm of thinking that the weekdays are for work and the weekends are for fun.  I remember, during our early days of marriage, my husband and I would get into arguments over our Saturdays.  He wanted to *work* around the house, while I was ready to *relax* and have fun with him.  Even now, I still struggle… The weekdays are so challenging sometimes that I just can’t wait(!) until Friday.  I do agree the nature of our weekends may be different than the weekdays, but for most of us, especially parents, they still involve a lot of work. 

When I think about work, I have to go back to the Bible – the place where God’s truth lies and waits to direct us.  As I tell my kids, when God set up the world, he put Adam and Eve on a playground.  Oh, wait!  No, he didn’t.  He put them in a garden.  For what purpose?  To work.  God created us to work and to get pleasure from that work. 

Then, God set up a system:   work only Monday through Friday.  No!  He said that six days were to be full of work and one day was devoted to rest and worship for God.  This may seem grueling, but if we are working and resting properly, as God sees fit, we should feel rejuvenated.  We should examine our work and rest lives and see if they are how God would want them to be.  Ask yourself if you are setting aside the “Sabbath” day of rest well enough.  It is something I am continually trying to improve.

If you have a typical Monday through Friday work schedule, think of Saturdays as another day to be productive.  Most of all, don’t get frustrated about it.  Ask God to help you be joyful to work and to be joyful as you work.  I am not saying your weekend can not be more leisurely and social.  Weekends provide great opportunity for more rest and relaxation and time with friends and family.  However, if we can expect and purpose ourselves to work, we can fight against setting ourselves up for disappointment when we do have to work on the weekends.

Lastly, what type of life are you expecting from your children?  Are you modeling a life of work and productivity – and contentment therein - or are you modeling a life of ease and entertainment?  Also, do you expect them to work?  Do you involve them in chores?  Do you talk to them about the meaning and value of work?  Do you work alongside of them and also give them tasks for which they, themselves, can be responsible?

My children feel such satisfaction when they work.  They oftentimes are not gung-ho about starting a project.  However, once they get going, I see them getting into their work and even singing and humming as they do it sometimes.  Children do not know what is best for themselves, so we must teach them!

Have a blessed weekend!

Enjoy your work  and your rest! 

Some resources for you:

• I read an interesting article about the affect our entertainment-soaked culture is having on our children.  Check it out here:  http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=172658999430605
• A friend of mine shared a neat link to a talk about work and rest  for moms.  I have only listened to half of it so far.  It is encouraging.  http://bloomingmoms.org/blog (In January, it is entitled “Me Time”.)