Work and Prayer

     I have always been one to dive into things head on. I tell myself that there is little time, we have a lot to do! Our work is our prayer and our prayer is our work. In my journey, however, I have discovered that work is all for nothing if it is not all for God. Work can cause bitterness, self-centeredness, frustration if it is not done in love. It requires patience which demands practice. True work is an expression of charity!

      I think we all value honest, hardworking folks. There is something inspiring in the strong grip of a calloused handshake, the softness of leathery skin surrounding a warm smile, and the feel of worn out boots. In our capitalistic society, we were taught that hard work pays off and we can make it rich if we try hard enough. Now, with our socialistic trend, it seems like those who work hard and make a good living are punished by heavier regulation and taxation. There is a growing sense of apathy and entitlement in our country. I do not admire hard working people for their wealth. Nor do I think that they should be taxed more for their success so that others can reap their rewards. I do admire the fact that they don't give up easily! They hang in there through thick and through thin. How they hang in there is what needs to be marketed.
     I am a hard worker. I have often bitten off more than I can chew on my own. I have had to rely on my husband and my children, but more importantly, on my God. There have been times when I have felt the bitterness, self-centeredness, and frustration that results from giving myself the credit. There have been a few times when I have felt like I was drowning in a pool of water and everyone around me was applauding and cheering. "Wow, Carol! I don't know how you do it! You are doing a great job! etc..."  On the inside, I would cringe and want to run far, far away, leaving whatever project we had started but I would hear my Mom sigh, "This too shall pass."  I would swim a little harder and Jesus would hold out his hand and say, "Oh, you of little faith, I was right here all along."
     One of the first homes that my family moved into when we returned to California was an old chicken coup in Homeland. The structure had been converted years before from a chicken building to a livable house. Mr. and Mrs. Norton wanted to help out a young couple with a bunch of little girls so they offered Curt and I a reduction in rent if we would clean up their rental place. It was situated on eight acres and was left a wreck by the previous renters. We were not the type to be discouraged by work so we agreed to their offer. In order to get the cleanup done right away, we lured all of our gullible (no longer so) family into taking part in a Kelly Coup Clean Up Day. With so many hands, the labor was light! This was an awesome discovery that has helped us throughout the years!  The place served our needs very well! It had an additional little house in the backyard that we used as a school house, a place to keep horses, and a pond we could walk to. The Nortons were incredible landlords and became like family to us.

     When we were expecting our sixth child, I convinced myself that I no longer wanted to rent and that we needed to buy something right away. I wanted to own a house, nothing could stop me from looking. I looked and looked but everything was so expensive! My sweet husband was so patient with me as I searched almost frantically and finally we found an old dilapidated Victorian house that we could afford.  We lived in it while we fixed it up. Once we were in it, there was no going back.. We sanded, turned dowels, replaced windows, tore down walls, rebuilt walls, dry walled, pulled up flooring, put down flooring, sanded some more, painted, plumbed, sanded some more, painted some more . .my arm still aches from all of the sanding we did! We learned a lot and enjoyed the majority of it. As we did all of this our family was growing. We had a boy and another girl. Our little girl died a saint when she was two and a half months old and God blessed and consoled  us with another boy through adoption. Our little Victorian house began to close in upon us.

     My next conviction was that we needed to sell and sell quickly! You see, our house was too small and "I" needed to get out! After many cooped up days with the kids, my sanity was shaken. True, the house was too small and the kids were growing but when I look back now, I am puzzled by my actions. I wanted more room, and nothing could stop me from looking. Twenty five acres with nothing on it would do just fine. So once again, I convinced my husband that we needed to do something. We sold everything, bought a travel trailer, (found a couple more little trailers because nine people do not fit very well into a fifth wheel), and parked ourselves on the land we found in the middle of nowhere while we built our larger home. You see, all this would mend my sanity! We made it through, but I almost blew up our trailer intentionally when we finally moved out of it. I told myself I would never camp again, never pick up a shovel again, and never do anything rash! I would think things over, paint my nails, and enjoy life.

     But...you see, something had to be done about the kids education! I just couldn't home school them through high school and I wasn't very fond of the schools. What would any normal person do? I decided to go back to school to pick up my teaching credential and teach at the school where my kids were to be enrolled. I was quickly hired at the Catholic high school in our area and my children all started their adventure in the Catholic school system. I did not foresee the effect that it would have on my entire family. Everything changed quickly! Time disappeared! Preparing for classes, teaching, and grading (did I say grading?...lots of grading!) took up the majority of my time and my poor husband got the back burner. There were great times in these three years. I figure Jesus spent three years in public ministry so three years would be enough for me in the teaching world. I realized through these three years that I needed to go camping! I needed to pick up a shovel again! I wanted to be free to make rash decisions! I could care less about my nails! I wanted to enjoy life.

     So I reacquainted myself with my husband,  dove back into home schooling with a new zeal, went camping, picked up a shovel again, planted a lawn, married off a daughter, and rediscovered the horses. And what have I learned? I am oh, so rich! First, and foremost, I have been blessed with the gift of Faith. I have also been blessed with my handsome husband who shares my Faith. We have been blessed with many beautiful children who are saints in the making. Although they have recently discovered how cheap we really are, they do not fail to recognize their many blessings.

     God has blessed me with work! I have not always viewed work as a blessing. I have given little thanks and glory to the God who sustains me in my efforts. It is all through Him, with Him, and in Him, In unity with the Holy Spirit. All glory and honor is Yours, Almighty Father, Forever. The Mass is the vehicle in which our work is offered to God and he looks at it through the sacrifice of His Son and says, "It is good."  I now try to think of the Holy Cross, of Our Blessed Mother's sufferings as she watched her Son. I think, stop pitying yourself and offer it up. I've got life so easy and so many others could really use my help. Do more so that I can offer that up as well! After all we are judged by our corporal and spiritual works of mercy! How much we love God is seen by how much we love our neighbor.
     Work is indeed an expression of charity. To avoid the bitterness, selfishness, and frustration that comes from working for self, offer it all to God, your successes and your failures. He is in control- not us. Day by day by day by day...Let each day be a prayer. Don't plan it all out. Work and prayer- don't work without prayer. All for God! Let God direct your paths! Kiss your spouse. Teach your kids! Actions speak louder than words!  Learn about the saints! Start doing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy with a new zest. It's people that matter! Love! Don't assume that people know you love them! Make it a point to prove it to them. Listen to people. Look for the good and the beauty in everything!  Don't expect to retire from good works! It's a lifelong adventure. Support each other! A little encouragement and help can go a long way!