Labor Day
Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary. By 1893, more than half the states were observing “Labor Day” on one day or another, and Congress passed a bill to establish a federal holiday in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill soon afterward, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day.
Here we are at Labor Day 2021. A day that has become traditionally known for taking a break from work. For most Americans, it means family BBQs, beach weekends, camping, or maybe shopping. Labor Day traditionally marks the end of summer. For the children it used to be the last holiday before heading back to school. These days it has become the first school holiday since most start school before Labor Day. For the football fan it’s the return of a new season!
Would you ever have imagined that we would be celebrating our second Labor Day wrapped in the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic? Much has changed in our lives including how the pandemic has transformed and impacted how we “work.”
So, on this Labor Day I encourage each of us to pause, reflect, and examine how each of us is doing. How has your “work” for the Lord come along? How do the things we do and the choices we make reflect God’s glory and bring honor to Him? In other words, in whatever we do, can the gospel of Jesus be experienced by others?
Happy Labor Day. May you find some time today to simply rest in the comfort of God’s word. It is refreshing and will satisfy each and every one of you.
Gracious God, you alone are worthy of all praise and glory. On this Labor Day we praise You for Your work and thank You for this time to reflect on our work. Thank You for being the original worker and for the work You continue to do in our lives, our families, our communities, and all the world. We thank You for calling each of us to be stewards – workers in your creation. We seek the help of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be fruitful in our work. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.