The Treasures of Hard Work

My three-year-old grandson understood “Trick or Treat” this year. After a drive to visit grandparents, his Mom and Dad walked him around his cul-de-sac and he rang neighbors’ doorbells for his treats. After a few houses, his Mom told him he could go to two more.

“No,” he answered to her surprise. “I’ll just do one. This is hard work.”

I suppose his little three-year-old legs got tired.

Adults get tired too.

My friend April White and I finished a manuscript and proposal a few months ago. We encouraged each other and shared the hard work. She called it grunt work. (http://redchairmoments.com/celebrate-grunt-work) Reading the words from our hearts and minds put to print, gave a sense of accomplishment.

Moving into house or apartment is hard work. Once boxes are unpacked and contents arranged, we see a house take on our personality and it feels like home.

Getting along with difficult people is hard work. Showing kindness and offering a gentle response to a harsh word, gives us peace even if the recipient doesn’t respond the same way.

Looking for employment is hard work. Job interviews give us practice and we learn perseverance. We learn the art of interview and more about ourselves each time.

Grieving is hard work. Moving through sorrow and tears stretches us, but healing comes with each wave of grief as we know God's comfort.

Waiting is hard work. As we wait, we often discover the process is often more valuable than the outcome.

Yes, it’s all hard work.

My Dad’s sage advice to our family was, “Do the hard work and do it with excellence. You’ll have a reward for it—even if others do not recognize it, you will have personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.” One of his letters to me in college reminded of that when I was discouraged.

My sweet grandson had a pumpkin full of candy as a reward for his “hard work”.  Sometimes, our sweetness comes from encouraging friends and perseverance.

And, for me, the sweet treasured words from my Dad still resonate. Years later, I realize he paraphrased Proverbs 13:19a (ESV): The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.

How do you view hard work? What’s been your reward for hard work?

What Do You Expect?

I spotted the sign and thought, why not?

An estate sale was in progress and since I found a parking spot on the street, I decided to see what treasures the house held.

As I entered, the women conducting the sale greeted me with a smile and told me, “There’s something in every room.”

The kitchen cupboards held casserole dishes and stemware. Silver pieces covered the dining room table. The pantry shelves contained rows of cookbooks. All were reminders of days gone by, reflections of a household no longer needed.

 

Did the owners move to a senior living residence? Did they expect to leave their belongings behind? Did they think they would stay in this home until their last breath?

The upstairs closet contained only women’s clothing. Had she passed? Or had he died years ago, and she passed? Or were these clothes the woman knew she’d never wear again in her new residence? The wardrobe boasted attractive and stylish clothing of the past; classy and classic. I speculated she used her silver pieces and dressed for fancy dinner parties.  I tried to imagine life once in the home. Now strangers passed through the house, evaluating, considering, picking up treasures, or passing by. Are the children disposing of the property and contents? I had questions, but no answers.

My curiosity kept me moving through the large house. When I entered another bedroom, I paused. Two wedding gowns were hanging on curtain rods on widows. Large gold gift boxes that once held the gowns, rested nearby on the floor. I read the label: “Preserved for a Lifetime of Loveliness”. Did the gowns belong to daughters? Why didn’t they want them? And…have the gowns have lasted longer than the marriages? Was the marriage not preserved for a lifetime? Is that what the brides expected?

Expectations: a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.

We all have expectations. Some are more dramatic than others. They may be dreams, hopes, or common-sense practical anticipation. Some expectations are realized and bring joy and success; other expectations fail and yield disappointments. Some are minor, some serious.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

(Proverbs 13:12 NLT)

Rain keeps us from enjoying a day at the beach.

Writers hope to have an article or book published but they are rejected by editors.

A young woman thinks her boyfriend will propose but he has cold feet and they break-up.

My cheesecake flops when I take it from the oven.

A teen goes out for a sports team and doesn’t make the cut.

A husband dies and retirement dreams are extinguished.

My connecting flight is delayed and I miss most of a reunion.

The deal on a dream house falls through.

A friendship disintegrates.

A diagnosis changes the trajectory of life.

The marriage isn’t preserved for a lifetime.

Expectations come in the form of time, relationships, dreams, emotions, and success.

How do we manage unrealized expectations? What keeps us moving forward in disappointments?

Can you offer words of wisdom and encouragement from your experiences? Join the conversation to guide us. Don’t we want to be preserved for a lifetime of loveliness?

Framing our Pictures…The Treasure of Telling Our Stories Part 2

When we bought our first house, we needed furniture.We were on a tight budget and interested in antiques, so we often went to estate sales. One sale in particular was in an upscale neighborhood. There wasn’t much that would fit our décor, but my husband spotted an old chest in the corner. It would be perfect near our fireplace. The price was right; we bought it, returned home, and carried our bargain into our family room. 

As I dusted and began to polish the surface of the old wooden trunk, I saw black marks. With a little more effort, a printed name emerged.  Who was this person?  I called the local historical society. As information unfolded, I became intrigued with the owner’s biography. It would be quite a prize to local antique collectors.  We merely wanted an old trunk to store wood for our fireplace, but we began to appreciate it on a different level. Somehow, I just couldn't use it for wood storage. It became a coffee table and I stored magazines in it. Once I knew the story behind the trunk, it had a different value.

That’s the way it is with our life stories. We may think they were for just us, or even insignificant, but they have value often unknown that may not surface for years.

Last week we looked at frames for our pictures. What did you find as you turned pages in a photo album?

     Did you see an answer to prayer in a photo of a bride and groom? Would that story encourage a young single person waiting for a mate?

     Did you see perseverance behind a smiling face of one receiving an award? Would that story encourage someone who practices hours to reach a goal?

     Does a photo of a family gathering include stories of traditions?

     Does the photo of a young woman showing her college acceptance letter tell the story of prayer behind a decision?

 

Like my old trunk, photos have stories. Our life stories shape us. Our stories influence others and have value.

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. 
Psalm 145: NLT

Will your stories touch someone? Yes, only if you tell them. Can you start today with a single photo and tell the story behind the photo?