Work With Their Hands

Daily Gratitude Year 9 - Day 248: Today, I am grateful for those who work with their hands. 

In  the USA, we get an extra day on the weekend. We call the first Monday in September "Labor Day". We celebrate the American worker with a day off. It has traditionally been the "end of summer", but in our state, many students have been back to school since before the middle of August.

The perfect verse for a labor day weekend was this:

"and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you," -1 Thessalonians 4:11 

What great advice for living well. 

I grew up in a place where most worked with their hands. Farming and farm communities relied on able bodied men, women and youth. There were other jobs that supported the farm work like mechanics, petroleum services, welders, truckers, and elevator operators. Butchers, bakeries and small cafe's helped feed the community. There were no fast food shops in town. Many teens worked walking beans or detassling corn as a first job after lawn mowing and babysitting. Every day with livestock was  hands-on work day. 

Working with our hands keeps us busy. Ladies, back in the day, belonged to sewing circles, knitting and crocheting clubs and attended quilting bees. Even recreation time was a gathering where you worked with your hands. 

Barn raisings were legendary in rural communities, although that practice predated me, unless you were in an Amish community.  A barn would literally be built in a day with efficiency and comradery. Carpentry work was and is still essential to life. Those who have had the opportunity watch an Amish barn raising comment on the efficiency and the busy hands of the workers. Everyone seems to know what they need to do and they do it. No need for much discussion when there is good work to be done. 

It is easy to forget Jesus learned the trade of His earthly father. Joseph was a carpenter. Imagine a table crafted by the Master's hand. He knew what it meant to work with your hands giving an honest day's work. 

This weekend we celebrate the American worker. I am especially grateful for those who work with their hands. 

Today, I am grateful for those who work with their hands.