Giving Thanks to the Lord for Labor Day

[bobinfaith]

Hello brothers and sisters;

There are many countries that celebrate a worker or labor day holiday. The United States and Canada originated their "Labor Day" holiday in the later part of the 19th century.

My wife Hazel began working in 1987 and retired end of 2022 totaling 35 years. I began working in 1973, retired in 2015, went back to work for a year in 2018 and retired for good totaling 43 years. There was a time when we owned our business for 5 years. There were prosperous times and major setbacks, giving our quitting notice, quitting without notice and those times I was fired 3 times.

Despite, we reflect on our careers and are grateful to God for the opportunity to work in various fields and earn His provisions. As we've gotten older and are enjoying retirement, we learned our work has always been our ministry, to serve God first, then to our employers, peers and employees.

Hazel stays in touch with her peers and former managers. They meet for lunch and attend events together.

After I retired from my career I went immediately into full time ministry in 2015 and still serve today.

Colossians 3:23-24, 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. - NKJV

What are other's thoughts, from all the years you worked, or are you still working?


God bless you all, and Happy Labor Day.

Bob

 

[Yesua888]

Hello brothers and sisters;

There are many countries that celebrate a worker or labor day holiday. The United States and Canada originated their "Labor Day" holiday in the later part of the 19th century.

My wife Hazel began working in 1987 and retired end of 2022 totaling 35 years. I began working in 1973, retired in 2015, went back to work for a year in 2018 and retired for good totaling 43 years. There was a time when we owned our business for 5 years. There were prosperous times and major setbacks, giving our quitting notice, quitting without notice and those times I was fired 3 times.

Despite, we reflect on our careers and are grateful to God for the opportunity to work in various fields and earn His provisions. As we've gotten older and are enjoying retirement, we learned our work has always been our ministry, to serve God first, then to our employers, peers and employees.

Hazel stays in touch with her peers and former managers. They meet for lunch and attend events together.

After I retired from my career I went immediately into full time ministry in 2015 and still serve today.

Colossians 3:23-24, 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. - NKJV

What are other's thoughts, from all the years you worked, or are you still working?


God bless you all, and Happy Labor Day.

Bob

Hi Bob,
Here's a story for you ... will try to keep it short : )
For many years I followed in my Mum's footsteps as a typist, then a secretary, starting in the 70's.
Around 1987, I had a profound and vivid dream (which I could not get out of my head). I told my family and my Mum about it (this large brick lined building with so many the stairs, the people ... )
At this stage in my career, my boss had put me in charge of "admin", to fulfil my "ambitions" of being more than just a secretary.
Life continued on, yet I was faced with re-evaluating whether to continue working in this capacity for another 30 years, or whether to follow my passion, and that was "designing houses". I've always been artistic ... years later my Mumm told me that at the age of 8 she had bought me graph paper so that I could "draw houses to my heart's content". I do remember drawing mushroom houses below a tree; even 'dissecting' them (drawing a 'cut through' view, with stairs to a loft, and so many little details (at an early age). My favourite story (read by my first school teacher, under a huge camphor laurel tree), was "The Magic Faraway Tree" by Enid Blyton.
The time came for moving on ...
My first desire was take up 'drafting' at the local Technical College. An interview with the head of the College, found me sharing that I was worried that becoming a draftsperson was too similar to being a 'typist' and that 'all I would be doing was typing/drafting someone else's ideas, I want to create'. He said "you have the qualifications now, so why not go to Uni?" I replied 'me? I was not good at school subjects'! He said "Well, I am an architect, and did not excel in maths either, and wish that I had gone to Uni". I agreed that he pick up the phone to make an appointment with Mr Claude, at the Uni.
I was standing in the carpark, at the entrance of a large building, built on the side of a hill ...
The dream unfolded exactly as it came to me those years previously, with me asking for directions from a tall thick set blond man with pale blue tee shirt, and a little Brunette on his arm. I turned to mount the open steel stairs to the gangway that lead to the library on one side and to the interview room. The "penny dropped" I turned around, my mouth dropped open, and the couple (blond boy in blue T shirt, and brunette by his side) took off from the causeway down the hundreds of stairs leading into and out of the building (built on the side of a hill). Every detail was exactly per my dream.
As Mr Claude had cautioned, my biggest hurdle would be "competing with A students, as well as my age, and non-architectural background". It was not easy over those 7 years of study and registering as an architect. Did this "degree" change who I was; not at all, it just changed the direction of my life ...
I was driven by an unseen Force , that I did not understand the why or the how at that time.
Working in architectural offices, saw me "drafting on computer", other peoples creations!
In 2008 (the global economic downturn) I lost my job ... it was "impossible" to find any kind of work. Long story short, I had an old house to "fix" (tenants had trashed it whilst I was working "away"). This was the start of "renovating and creating". Friends would come to me for assistance and ideas for their renovations, which I gladly gave (plus new home design for a good friend). I soon started my own little "drafting service", and had fun creating "dream homes" for other people : ) However, I was not a "business woman" and got more satisfaction out of doing the best job I could and undercharging for my services.; this was hardly paying the bills ..
Doors then opened for me to buy, move in, renovate and then sell on ...
Now I am a retired person, still renovating and transforming whatever I can (be it gardening, artwork, or other).
All around me I see God's creation, and this drives me today ...
I value this Forum, the fellowship, and learning about God's Word, which up until a few years ago, were quite unknown to me. In fact my conditioned belief was that "the bible was written by man" ...

 

[David]

What an amazing story, thank you for sharing it. It’s interesting how that dream stayed with you and then unfolded so clearly years later when you arrived at the university.

You can really see how God was leading you step by step, even through the difficult seasons and unexpected changes. Your love of creating seems to have been there from childhood, and it’s wonderful that you were eventually able to use those gifts to help others create homes of their own.

I also appreciate your honesty about how your view of the Bible has changed. We all come to God’s Word from somewhere, and it is a blessing when He opens our eyes and gives us a desire to learn more.