For our kids, we've been wanting to connect the concept of earning money with work. It's not always as easy to teach as you'd think, especially when you try to help them find work they enjoy, or to find fun in their work. So this summer, we seem to be either purposely or accidentally discovering what work really is, and that it's not always fun or enjoyable, but it is necessary, and worthwhile. We have found - again both purposefully and accidentally - that earning money means having to work, and sometimes it's hard. But again, it's good. The newspaper route is currently fun. It will get hard when the snow flies, but it will still be good. Watching our little friend is work. It's hard. We're tired. Frankly, we "count the hours" some days. But we like him a lot. It is good for our kids to know that taking care of kids is not as "easy" as some believe. But it has its reward, and we don't just mean the money. It's not particularly well paid (in our case), but it's a great service, and the relationship is wonderful. Kind of like having kids. And the money they're earning is well-earned. They've worked hard for it. And this week Andante was asked to work about 10 hours over two days at the local farm where we have our CSA. It was somewhat boring, it had some definite hard work involved at times (loading and unloading produce), and he was on his feet for most of it. He was well-paid. The people were good to work with. Fun? Not really. But between saving his allowance and a birthday gift from his grandparents and these hours of hard work, he's now earned enough to pay for his lifeguarding class next summer, so mission accomplished. They're learning that work is satisfying, and it has a purpose. In the midst of it, I'm finding that I need to focus and be efficient even more than I'm used to in order to get my own work done, what with balancing the kids' jobs, the comings and goings, and still finding time to relax. It is doable. And I enjoy my work - and my kids. I'm tired, but it is good.
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.
