what my hands have found to do

We have an old house. A very old house. I’m still working on finding out exactly how old. Grandma always told us that it was 1825 for the main house. Parts of the kitchen, once a summer kitchen, have been hard to date. But I’ve been trying. Over the last week, I’ve spent 25 hours in my kitchen. Now, if I was a professional baker or chef that wouldn’t seem like a lot but I’m not. And right now, I don’t have anything in my kitchen. Anything at all. 

Well, actually, I have some wood and a whole lot of stone. And this week, I feel like an archeologist with a dash of stone mason. For most of the hours I’ve been in the kitchen I have been digging old mud and straw from between gorgeous brownstone. 

Chiseling Between The Farmhouse Stones

That is the work my hands have found to do. The author of Ecclesiates, Qoheleth, while wrestling with the meaning of life, talks about finding satisfaction in our work. 

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart. - Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

A good hard day of physical labor, like I’ve found in my kitchen, is so fulfilling. When we can step back and look at what has been accomplished, it is easy to be satisfied. But everything we do isn’t like that, is it? 

There are many days that I spend countless hours behind a computer making calls and sending emails, counseling a friend, or keeping up with my never ending to do list. When we spend our days doing these types of things, often there is no visual cue for us to feel satisfied or to find joy in what we do. Yet, God gives us the ability to choose satisfaction and to be joyful in every moment and through all of our work. 

We had a few days this week, where we worked all day and then looked back and couldn’t figure out what we accomplished. We felt oddly satisfied yet we visually saw nothing. Does this happen to you? When we continue to work faithfully and consistently over several days, months, and sometimes years, I believe God helps us see what we have accomplished. Sometimes we make it more obvious by jotting down our thoughts and memories. Other times, we are reminded of them through people, places, and life events. 

This week has been different than most for us as we juggle family life, farm animals, and living between 3 houses. We’ve done work that will be easy to remember every time we walk into the kitchen. And some that won’t. Just like growing a garden, it will be months before we see the fruit of that labor. 

How has your week been? Are you satisfied in your work or are you still waiting to see how God uses you? As we head into another week of toil in this life, I am hoping we both get a chance to sit back and be reminded of what we have accomplished and take joy in it. 

Searching for wisdom and asking for grace,

Jody