St. Tobias Parish issued the following announcement on Aug. 30.
There’s no getting around it: Work is a big part of our lives, yet some think of work in a negative way, as something to be endured. This is quite natural for fallen human beings but also sad and unfortunate. Sure, there are times when work can be monotonous, but it’s important to remember that it provides an opportunity to participate in God’s creative and redemptive plan for mankind. Simply put, work has a purpose. And that purpose goes well beyond earning a living and providing for your family. It includes using your God-given talents to make a positive difference in this world.
Below is a letter I received from a gentleman who shared with me how his grandfather approached work. It captures the essence of what work is all about.
Dear Phil,
My grandfather was a dentist in central Iowa in the 1930s. He was a committed dentist whose last resort was to pull a tooth.
Unfortunately, people who were struggling with basic needs did not practice the best dental hygiene. My grandfather was often called in too late and had to pull a molar out rather than fill a cavity — often in exchange for a chicken, a dozen eggs or a gallon of milk.
This led my grandfather to consider a teaching career, and he left the small town, moved to the University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1938 when my mother (an only child) was in eighth grade, and became a professor at the University of Iowa Dental College. He held his teaching position until 1972, when he retired after training a generation and a half of dentists to practice the “good dentistry” that was not possible during the Depression. He used his gift of teaching to spread good dental hygiene and practice.
When I was a boy, I was treated by one of my grandfather’s former students, an orthodontist in Sioux City. After quite an extensive regime of treatment, my mother asked him “to send the bill and please to allow a little time to pay” as I was the oldest of seven and a large dental bill was the last thing my parents needed to pay. The orthodontist’s response was, “You don’t owe me anything. Without your father’s training, I would not have had my profession. It is the least I can do to treat his grandson as a gift back.”
This story is a great illustration of how one man effectively used the skills God had given him to better his own life and the lives of those around him. It’s also a lesson in learning to give thanks to those who have mentored us along the way. Just as with this man’s grandfather, give your work your best effort. By following a few basics, you’ll be a valued employee and find great purpose in making a positive difference in the world:
- Be so reliable that your employer would trust you with his life. Integrity matters. Start work on time, apply yourself diligently to the work at hand, and be honest in all your dealings. With these attributes as your foundation, your employer will know he can depend on you.
- Plan your work and work your plan. Follow through on commitments.
- Be a team player. Don’t let a competitive spirit lead to envy or jealousy with coworkers.
- Never stop growing your talents and abilities and helping grow the abilities of others. Participate in employer-sponsored education programs if offered, or sign up for continuing education programs on your own. You need to stay current in your field of expertise so that you will always have the best there is to offer.
- Go above and beyond the call of duty. Do more than is asked of you.
God love you!
Original source can be found here.
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