“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24
We celebrated Labor Day several weeks ago; a Federal Holiday. I read a few facts about it yesterday. It is reported that the first big Labor Day celebration in the United States was on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York. Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894 following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike and was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland.
The man in the attached photo is ‘laboring’ with a wheel barrow in Port-au-Prince. This man has a job, delivering goods, every day that he can get up and perform this task; probably makes a dollar a day. While living in Haiti there didn’t ever seem to be a day that was designated as ‘labor day’ in Haiti. Every day people labored under the sun like an army of ants toiling endlessly throughout the daylight hours.
Labor Day originated as a way to celebrate the social and economic advancements of the United States and pay tribute to the driving force of our economy; the American laborer. Too often we fail to recognize that our ‘world’ created holidays don’t give thanks to God, for giving us the abilities, the talents and the jobs that we are blessed with here in North America and give thanks that we are not driving a wheel barrow in Port-au-Prince during our twilight years.
Take a moment to consider the immenseness of the blessings that have been given to you. Give thanks for a Savior that took your burdens to the cross. Give thanks for the Holy Spirit that continues to guide your daily steps and provides you with opportunities to share of your labors with the children living in Haiti. I close with the words to the hymn ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ which was written by Joseph Scriven in 1855.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear; may we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright, unclouded, there will be no need for prayer; rapture, praise, and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.”
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay