Happy 3 day weekend for some of you. Happy bargain shopping day for some of you. Happy last camping weekend of the summer before school starts for some of you. Happy Monday…LOL, I had to say it because happy and Mondays don’t usually go together.
Do you know the true meaning behind Labor Day? “Labor Day is a national holiday that was created to celebrate the American worker and what their work brought to the economy.”
It came about in the late 1800’s due to the “Industrial Revolution” there were no laws or protection governing the working man. They worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, no health benefits, no sick leave benefits, in actuality no benefits at all except, except a few coins dropped in their lunch bucket at the end of the day.
In due time workers started to talk amongst themselves, gathering together, became organized and fought back against these harsh working conditions and environments. The first labor unions came about and changes were made within these factories and mills. June 28, 1894, U.S. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill that created the holiday “Labor Day.”
The word labor itself sounds tiring; “expenditure of physical or mental effort”, “services performed by workers for wages”, “human activity that provides the goods or services in an economy.” See what I mean?
As we already have discovered God worked for six days and rested on the seventh. Genesis 2:1-3a NCV “So the sky, the earth, and all that filled them we’re finished. By the seventh day God finished the work he had been doing, so he rested from all his work.” “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.”
Let’s see what else God has to say about labor and work!
Ecclesiastes 3:13 NCV “God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their work, which are gifts from God.”
Proverbs 12:11 NLT “A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.”
Proverbs 23:29 NLT “Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than ordinary people.”
Proverbs 16:3 NIV “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Are you happy in your job? We all have days but I mean are you doing what you love, your calling? I know working is a means of survival but that doesn’t mean you have to stay where you are miserable. If you are among the blessed who loves their job, Hallelujah!!! However if you aren’t one of the blessed few, Pray about your situation! Check out some online courses you can do in the evening at home! Just because you have to put in the 9-5 at the grind doesn’t mean you don’t have choices…they are out there, you might just have to do some digging, asking, looking and possibly making some changes but then that would be what it was all about in the first place. Right!!!
Wherever you are today, I wish for you a fun day filled with family and sunshine, or a quiet peaceful afternoon just you and a good book. If you are one of the few who have to labor this Labor Day, I pray for you a fun, blessed day at work. Make it a great day! And as always, thank you for joining me. 🥰
Sunshine On My Shoulder 