Today’s Post By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
“Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
When I was growing up, my parents made sure my brother, sister, and I shared in the household chores. It was a way to instill good work ethics into our character at a young age. Of course I did not see the value in doing chores back then, but I can now see how even small responsibilities taught me to work hard and take pride in a job well done.
Every night we took turns setting the table for dinner and doing dishes. I’m not sure if cooking spray was around back then, but if it was… my mom didn’t use it! Sometimes the pots and pans became so soiled with baked-on food, it was like cement. If you happened to be the unlucky one on dish duty, you had major scrubbing to do. Sometimes (if mom was feeling generous), she would allow us to soak the pot overnight, but most of the time she told us to put a little ‘elbow grease’ into our scrubbing. (One of my mom’s many creative expressions.)
Elbow grease helped you get the job done right. It represented perseverance, resolve, and determination.
Now that I’m an adult, cleaning food-plastered dishes seems like a welcome task compared to some of the responsibilities I face. My daily duties have changed over the years, but the same principles for tackling tough projects apply today.
Is there an overwhelming project that’s threatening your resolve? Don’t give up! God will provide strength and encouragement when you need it most.
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23)
Take one day at a time, do each job to the best of your ability, and when the job gets really tough… apply a little elbow grease.
