There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also I saw is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment. Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 ESV
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Colossians 3:23 ESV
Happy Labor Day to everyone! A holiday and long weekend to
celebrate everyone who works. Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes that nothing is
better for us than to eat, drink, and enjoy the work that we do. In Ecclesiastes
3:13 Solomon also says that work or toil is “God’s gift to man.” In
Colossians, Paul, suggests that we all work with all our heart, as if we were
working for the Lord and not for men. This advice also helps us to have a
better attitude toward our work.
My first “job” that
paid was as a babysitter for neighbors and friends. I even babysat some special
needs kids. I loved it! I guess it may be why I chose to work with kids later
as a teacher. My first real job with an actual paycheck was as a hotel maid
when I was in middle school. My sister and I worked as a team on weekends and
summers at a local hotel. In college I worked as a resident assistant. I have
to say In general, I did enjoy most of the jobs I had and tried to always do my
best (not that I didn’t complain some from time to time).
After college, I was a full time teacher for twelve years in
special education and regular first grade. After the birth of our first child,
I became a “stay-at-home mom” for the next twelve years (our second child came
along two years after the first.). The next twelve years I worked with my
husband in his furniture parts business. I enjoyed all of these! Now as a
blogger/writer (my daughter calls this my fourth career) I am loving it and
feel I am working for the Lord!
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. Have a cookout with family and
friends, take a long weekend trip, or just relax and rest and thank the Lord
for your toil!
I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me
to celebrate Labor Day and remember to enjoy all of our work!
Blessings and joy as we labor for the Lord!
I would love to hear what some of your first jobs were!
Peggy Writes 
Massive respect to you, Peggy, for your service in helping kids, especially special needs kids. We need more people like you in this world.
My first paying job was pumping gas at a Texaco station the summer of my 17th year. I grew up on a farm so there was always farm work (my dad refused to pay allowance, though). I think my favorite jobs were actually volunteer work I did coaching youth baseball and basketball for six years in a tiny Colorado town. I was able to coach a couple of my nephews in both sports and that was a lot of fun. Those volunteer jobs were meaningful and represent some of the happiest times of my life. I’ve had some awful jobs, too, with horrible bosses, but I suppose that’s sort of par for the course for most people.
Anyway, hope you had a wonderful Labor Day, my friend. 😊🌸
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Hmm…my first paying job was a summer in the early 90’s doing property maintenance.. hard labor, but good pay.
God bless you Peggy..anyone who gets the calling and privilege to shape young minds should.be applauded.
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Thank you, Nigel! I appreciate your kind comments. You did have a tough first job and you have to have a variety of skills. 😊
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It was good..kept me out of trouble..idle hands being the devil’s play thing n all. 🤣
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My first paying job was a library aide for the summer — really enjoyed it. Really good post. Thanks and although a little late—Happy Labor Day to you too my friend! Blessings and Peace!
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Thanks, c.f., love that your first job was in a library! Did you read a lot of books that summer? Blessings, friend!
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You are so welcome my friend. Yes I did—still do when I can. Have a blessed new week!
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You as well! Blessings!
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Mike, so sorry for the super delayed response! Don’t know how I missed it! Thanks for the kind comments! I have always loved working with kids and special needs kids are my joy.
I love that your first job was pumping gas! Was that when windshield washing and checking your oil was included?
Sometimes we get more of out of those “jobs” where we get no compensation. I’m doing kids Bible school this week with our church.
And we all had those bosses…
Thanks, Mike, your encouragement keeps me going!
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No worries, Peggy. And yep, washing windshields, changing oil and flat tires and all the basic stuff was part of that first job. I had to quit when school (and football practice) began that fall of my senior year. My most cherished takeaway from that first job was my first electric guitar, which I bought with my own money and which I still have today, 43 years later. 😎🎸
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How awesome! Things mean so much more when we work for them. Have a great week, my friend!!
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