My parents both grew up on farms in the Midwest of America. Both learned the value of work, that continual work wrought by cows that need to be milked every day and animals fed and watered. They instilled in me the satisfaction of a job well done, whether a clean carpet or a writing project. I sometimes fear I am too soft on my kids in comparison – will they too love to work?
Yes, work has been affected by the fall of humanity, where now we will toil and labor with sweat and pain. But humanity was to subdue creation before the fall, so we can infer that work can be good and meaningful. We’ll always live in that tension of living in a world that is made for beauty and enjoyment but one affected by sin and disease, and our relationship with work reflects that tension.
What’s your view of work?
This year we celebrated last Sunday, a week early because of conflicting events on the actual holiday. My son giving me chocolate and my daughter some lovely roses (photo above). I was delighted to be reminded of a painting my dad created for one of the senior art classes he teaches, which reflects the roses I have before me. A reminder of God’s beauty in creation, given in love by a family member.
