Workin' Woman

Employment is a funny thing.

It wasn't until I didn't have it that I fully understood all that it is meant to be and all that it does for my soul. Sure, it may provide financial means for Matt and I, but even more importantly, my job gives me worth and value. (This goes for all those jobs out there that are unpaid, stay at home mama's and papa's/caregivers and so on.)

For whatever reason, when I'm not working I feel so lousy about who I am. I feel as though my identity is gone. My title is fleeting.

I'm incredibly hard on myself when it comes to my work. I expect a lot of myself and I hate disappointing a boss or supervisor. The work ethic is engrained--leaving me fearful of disappointment and unmet expectations.

Yet, I am happiest when I am working.

I'm not sure I have a healthy relationship with work when it comes to worth and value (I'm working on it). I often need to remind myself that I am more than my job and what I do from 9-5. And once I find the healthy balance between working to meet my own self constructed expectations and simply working for the Lord... I find an incredibly happy place.

God mentions that we were designed with the intentions to work. One of the first things God gives Adam and Eve to do is the job of naming the animals along with tending the garden of Eden. He gave them a purpose--something meant to be good and positive (before they sinned).

 ¹⁵ God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.    Genesis 2:15

 And now that sin is abounding on this earth, we can all struggle with what 'work' is--time consuming, life sucking, nasty, unethical, ridiculous expectation types' of 'work'. But if we remember that work is called of our idle handles we can more graciously work for the Lord and not for this world.

^22-25Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work. Colossians 3:22-24

This past academic year has been an interesting shift of what 'work' is in my life. I wasn't often working for money, yet always working for God's favor. I had to graciously learn how to work for my household, for my husband, for my "stay at home wife" title. A job description I have never desired before. A "stay at home mom" title is another story ;) (can't wait for those days). But the meaning and definition of 'work' was redefined for me, yet again.

So here I am back home and back to working jobs I love. This is a huge blessing, because these jobs really and truly give me my happy place. I'm the first to recognize that not all jobs creative such joy in peoples lives, but for me, and for now I am doing things I love, with people I love, and for a Lord I love. 

And here are some pretty shots of where I work in the summer. Have you ever heard of Lakeside, OH? It's a pretty magical place.

In addition to working in Lakeside, I am also a caregiver for a dear friend of mine. Only 11 more days till our summer together kicks off--and then you will find us romp-in' around town and making fantastic summer memories.

Praise the Lord for the things I have been called to do during this chapter in my life. I may be wanting babies--but God's got me doing some other pretty cool things for now.