A perspective on labor for Labor Day

Bert and I were saddened to learn that our friend Wallace had only weeks to live due to advanced leukemia.
Six months later, although he never went into remission, he rebounded so well that the hospice house discharged him, allowing him to return home for a short while.
Throughout his ordeal, even while in the hospice house, Wallace prayed, “Father, You’ve kept me alive this long. What do You have left for me to accomplish?”
What an example! Wallace could have easily justified putting his feet up and taking it easy for whatever time he had left. Yet even in the face of fatigue, he wanted to live out the rest of his life faithfully.
What if you and I lived each day as if Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) was true? “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” As if the One Who created us had actually prepared a plan for every day of our lives?
We love the permission Labor Day gives us to rest from our work. So, without detracting from all that Labor Day entails, I’d like to suggest we look at our work differently. Perhaps if we asked God to show us how to serve Him in everything we invest our time and sweat into (work and leisure), it could change our perspective.
How might our lives change if we asked God, “What have You prepared for me to do today, Lord?”
What if we asked this every day at work, school or home?
Wouldn’t this affect not only our day but everything we labor toward? Especially if we did it all with a humble and cheerful attitude? It would give even mundane tasks meaning.
It’s been about 10 years since Wallace left us. I wish I could thank him for modeling how to live and work well.
By God’s grace, I want to live out the plan God has prepared for me each and every day, for as long as I’m able.
Every time I’m tempted to waste another day, I want to think about the look that must have been on Wallace’s face when His Lord and Savior said, … “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Sheryl H. Boldt is a sales executive for Wave 94 and author of the blog, TodayCanBeDifferent.net. Connect with her at SherylHBoldt.Wave94@gmail.com.