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Feb. 19, 2008 - Thoughts on "Created For Work" - Chapter One
Tonight I started reading the book, "Created for Work, Practical Insights for Young Men", by Bob Schultz. I've had the book for awhile. I thought it might make a good devotional for dh to read to my youngest son. He hadn't gotten around to it after all these many months. I took a look at the book the other day and thought we really need to read at least some of this book together as a family. It seems that when it comes to myself and the kids that things aren't going smoothly when it comes to our work around the house. For myself, I work hard around the house steadily. I'm the house-workaholic type. However, I find that I'm very inefficient. One of the causes of this is that I'm in always in a hurry. I'm in a hurry, because I don't want housework to take me all day thus crowding out what is really important in life--time with my family.
Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men... Colossians 3:23 (Amplified Version)
Recently, my daughter-in-law was over. She came up to me and said, "I folded that laundry basket of clothes in the living room."
I looked at her blankly and said rather quietly, "It was folded already."
A confused look came into her eyes as she said slowly, "Oh...it didn't look folded."
Upon examining her folded laundry, I had to conclude that I hadn't folded the laundry after all. This was a real eye-opener for me after 22 years of "folding laundry" as an adult. It was a bit humbling. I resolved that day to turn over a new leaf after I was properly instructed in the details of laundry-folding. I went through my husband's drawer to set all the years of wrong right by making sure that certain personal items were folded "correctly"--military style or what should be military style for those items. He thought I was crazy as he is former military and is quite happy with certain items not being folded at all. Needless to say after all my resolve, I sadly fell back in to my old habits very quickly.
I know that if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well. This includes folding the laundry. For me the need is balance: doing jobs well while not getting sucked into losing the whole day making things perfect. I think re-evaluating how I'm spending my time is important so that if the laundry is going to take more than the five minutes I've been giving it, then I will have budgeted the appropriate time it actually takes.
Back to the book, "Created for Work":
The first chapter is entitled, "Art in Your Heart". The author talks about God's energy and creativity being without measure. Drudgery and getting by with the bare minimum aren't factors in God's vocabulary. Even the simplest of God's works are works of art. Take the snowflake for instance. Earlier this year, I found snowflake pictures online which were fascinating. The author states that, "God puts His heart into His work." How often are my children and I doing work with an attitude of drudgery, do what we have to do and be done with it so we can do the next thing which will be better than this.
Looking back at Colossians 3:23 and the word "heartily", the author refers to it as "adding a touch of abundance, that splash of overflow that comes from a heart filled with God." This is going above and beyond what is necessary, and doing it with joy. Now, I see that an evaluation of our attitudes toward work is in order. People with full and abundant hearts give the way Jesus instructed:
"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38
Empty hearts give the bare minimum and grudgingly. The author suggests using imagination to turn a gray and drudgery job into something that blossoms with creative color. Decorating, in some way, every task we undertake. We'll find the joy of His presence when we team up with God to accomplish a task.
Well, I'm not sure how this will work out into my life, but I'm starting with folding the laundry tomorrow.
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Post A Comment!
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Mar. 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Patiecake |
| Wow! You sound like me. For as much as I clean I would think my house would be spotless but I to have not grasped efficiency so I will keep trying. Take care. I saw you were online so I stopped by. |
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Mar. 20, 2008 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Patiecake |
| I really thank you for sharing this with me. My mom and I are both feeling this bitterness and fear. My dad on the other hand is handling it quite well as his faith in God is unmovable. We will patient wait for the results and I appreciate your encouragment alot. Take care. I'll post an update when I know more. |
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Mar. 20, 2008 - Welcome! |
| Posted by blessed2bhome |
You are very welcome. I'm glad it was okay that I shared with you. I'll be watching for your updates on your blog. I pray it will be good news.
As my first commenter, I hope you keep checking back. It will be nice to think that someone is reading. :) I've been reading and thinking in preparation for my next post.
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