Honoring our Labor

One of the first chores I was given at my grandparent’s farm was drawing water from the well. First, I’d fill burlap-wrapped gallon jugs for the workmen and take them to their trucks. Then I’d fill a couple water buckets for the chickens. Then I’d haul a bucket over to the barn for the cats that lived there.

It required ample arm pumping to draw water up from the depths. Especially when it had been a hot dry summer. I’d had chores at home, but this was work. I might have been young, but I was learning to respect the hard work I saw everyone doing. There were meal time breaks and evening rest, but work came first. 

 

Grandma was fond of quoting Scripture as she sent me out to gather eggs or dig up potatoes— “Whoever doesn’t work should not eat.” We were always well-fed, but we also knew we were sharing the work load.

 

I thank those who came before me who set the bar high for my work life. It’s a bar worth setting high—because it’s our work that really helps build our lives and the lives of those we love—as well as building our communities.  Thanks for sharing the work load and may you enjoy your Labor Day.


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