This week end we celebrate Labor Day with family gatherings and end of summer cookouts. It may be a weekend to get away that one last time to the cottage for a last summer break. Hopefully for most of us, it’s a leisurely day to rest from our “labors”.
In the midst of our leisure it may also be a time to remember and pray for those who must labor on this weekend. We remember all of those who don’t get a day off this weekend. We remember nurses and aides in hospitals and nursing homes; those in our fire and police departments; our military personnel overseas; our brothers and sisters involved in the recovery efforts in Texas and Louisiana and the list goes on and on. I also think about those waitresses and those in poor paying jobs who have to work all the holidays because they don’t get paid for days off and have to work to just pay their bills. This isn’t to spoil our cookout or make us feel guilty. It’s just to make use more aware of all those who work so very hard and often get little recognition and compensation for the work of their hands.
The other part of this weekend is to thank God for the work that we’ve been given and the blessing that work has brought to our life and to the lives of many that have been effected by our toil. Although, when the alarm goes off, and we awake for a new day, we may not thank God for the work that has been given to us but it truly it is sacred and holy work. It reminds us that we are important and part of something greater than ourselves. It gives meaning to our lives.
So maybe this weekend, we pray for those who work in difficult jobs and are not compensated as they should be. We pray that one day all people will receive a living wage and be able to live their lives with dignity and pride. We also thank God for the work that we have been given to do in our life time. May we continue to be faithful to the work God has entrusted to each of us.
In the midst of our leisure it may also be a time to remember and pray for those who must labor on this weekend. We remember all of those who don’t get a day off this weekend. We remember nurses and aides in hospitals and nursing homes; those in our fire and police departments; our military personnel overseas; our brothers and sisters involved in the recovery efforts in Texas and Louisiana and the list goes on and on. I also think about those waitresses and those in poor paying jobs who have to work all the holidays because they don’t get paid for days off and have to work to just pay their bills. This isn’t to spoil our cookout or make us feel guilty. It’s just to make use more aware of all those who work so very hard and often get little recognition and compensation for the work of their hands.
The other part of this weekend is to thank God for the work that we’ve been given and the blessing that work has brought to our life and to the lives of many that have been effected by our toil. Although, when the alarm goes off, and we awake for a new day, we may not thank God for the work that has been given to us but it truly it is sacred and holy work. It reminds us that we are important and part of something greater than ourselves. It gives meaning to our lives.
So maybe this weekend, we pray for those who work in difficult jobs and are not compensated as they should be. We pray that one day all people will receive a living wage and be able to live their lives with dignity and pride. We also thank God for the work that we have been given to do in our life time. May we continue to be faithful to the work God has entrusted to each of us.