After the Story - Choices Like Rivers - Episode 24
After the Story - Choices Like Rivers - Episode 24
This podcast discusses each chapter of Choices Like Rivers and each episode is posted directly after the book episode. This corresponds to Chapter 9 Section 2.
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I love this section. Sharon finally has an opportunity to work in the area she was trained in and is incredibly eager to do everything she can to impress her boss. She wants to be valuable to him.
Sometimes when it takes a long time to achieve our goal, when we have to be patient, the achievement of that goal is even sweeter. Out of gratitude, Sharon is eager to give above and beyond and to not just accomplish a lot of tasks, but to do those tasks well.
I was always that way. It may have stemmed a bit from the people pleasing personality that I had or that I just loved accomplishing things and doing them well.
For most of my life I was a single mom so I worked a lot while raising my kids. I know that much of the time I fell short on that front. They were good kids and it was a time when kids had a lot of freedom unlike today.
I’ve heard it said that millennials raised themselves. That is partly true as it was a time when parents worked, a lot.
Whether it was good or bad and whether I am considered a good or bad parent for it all, I suppose it depends on a variety of things. I do have a lot of regrets and see that I made a lot of bad choices that I would give anything to redo. But, I can’t.
I am very thankful though for several things. My kids are very self sufficient. All three of them can do about anything. They can think for themselves and not just survive in this world, but flourish. They have stamina and perseverance. Maybe being left alone to your own devices while growing up will lead to that.
They also have always had an outstanding work ethic. I am not sure I can take full credit for that, but if they watched me and my dedication to working hard, as well as watching their father who had a great work ethic, they are living what was modeled to them.
Now I have not only grandchildren, but yes, great-grandchildren. Most have very strong work ethics. I look around at other younger adults and not only do I see a declining work ethic, but a lack of desire to work at all.
I am not being critical, just saying what I see. Did our obsession to work so much and put so much emphasis on work over family cause them to burn out on the idea of work?
Did it steal so much from them that they became repulsed by the very thing that took their parents away from them? Are they in a sense rebelling against their parents lifestyle? If so, that would not be a new thing.
Overworking to the point of obsession is not good at all. There were many nights that I should have come home but was instead burning the midnight oil at work. It was only later that I saw the damage that it did to my youngest son whom I had basically abandoned at home alone.
We had been so close and we did so much together, until I took a job I felt I needed to pour my entire life into. I thought to myself that he wouldn’t even miss me. Oh, how wrong I was and I carry that regret to this day.
But we do need a strong work ethic. We need to feel satisfaction at a job well done. We need balance in our lives in the area of work and family.
I like to work. Even now as a retired Realtor, I work everyday. I am in here at my desk writing, marketing, or other work tasks that I have set to do for the day.
Goal making is as natural to me as breathing. I know each day, week, or month what I hope to accomplish. When I make and then achieve those goals there is a glowing sense of accomplishment that floods over me.
And here is the kicker. No one but me knows. I am not doing it because I have a boss micromanaging my every move or because I can shout it out to the world - look what I got done today, but because it feels so good to get things done and to see progress in my life.
Now here is the question. How do we re-instill a strong work ethic into the younger generations? And, how do we do it in such a way where there is balance in their lives?
We can’t just look at them and point fingers and criticize. How do we learn to compete with their peers and have a strong enough voice with wisdom on this subject? How do we have a voice that they will listen to and respect?
As I said, I am very proud of not only my children, but also my grandchildren. As I said, most all of them work hard and accomplish a lot. They are goal setters and feel good when they achieve those goals. My kids did good with them. Some are still too young to work, but I trust when the time comes, they will also have a good work ethic.
Do you as an adult have a strong work ethic? What is causing you to feel ambivalent about work? Maybe you are a round peg in a square hole. Maybe what God designed you to be is not what you are actually doing.
We have all been there. Sometimes jobs are just jobs and not meant to be our forever career. But in the bible we are encouraged to do well, work hard, at whatever is before us.
If we are diligent to do well even at a job we don’t like or enjoy, we will be rewarded with one we do feel fulfilled in. We, as a round peg, will find our round hole.
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