Retirement As long as you are still breathing, you are here for a reason. You have a purpose to influence others for Christ. Our work is not always tied to a paycheck.
I hear stories of people who have retired and then they feel like they start to wonder what their purpose on this earth is anymore. They start to struggle with feeling like they are just contributing anymore. But, God tells us otherwise. "As long as you are still breathing, you are here for a reason."
I am far from the age of retirement. But I still struggle at times with my purpose here on earth sometimes. I am a stay-at-home mom, have been for over 15 years now, and I have a very part-time job cleaning the church I am a member of. My days are pretty repetitious and the work I do can be frustrating at times. My kids don't need me to do for them as much anymore. They are discovering their independence, and our relationships have changed. I'm finding the teenage years to be quite a challenge for me.
I can get so tired of cleaning. You put all the time and energy into the task, you look around when the task is complete with a sense of accomplishment, order and peace, and then someone comes into the room and all of your efforts are erased by one single muddy footprint on your clean floor...ugh! What was the point in doing all of that work! And you find yourself doing the job all over again.
We all have jobs like this, not just stay-at-home-moms. Everyone; young, old, men and women. We all have jobs to do in our lives that feel pointless at times. I think the frustration that comes with our jobs can be stronger when a paycheck in not involved. Then you can really feel like all your hard work is for nothing and like you are not contributing to your family.
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
All of God's work is important, and if you love and believe in God; if you live your life to glorify and honor God, then EVERYTHING you do is work for God. He has a plan and a purpose for every single second you live on this earth.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
You are contributing to God's plan and purpose, and your reward is waiting for you in heaven.
2Timmothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
A friend of mine died early yesterday morning. She was an example of 2Timothy 4:7. She was my choir buddy, and she helped me a lot to hit notes I was struggling with and helped me to understand parts of the music (I was never taught how to read music so I was really lost sometimes). I really didn't spend much time with her outside of church, so there are parts of her life that I don't know much about. But she was a great inspiration to me. She fought the good fight faithfully and she did it with a smile on her face; every time I saw her. She had been battling with cancer for a couple years, and I know that she had days of great struggle. What I was blessed with seeing was a woman who was strong in her faith. She would come to church on Sunday wearing a beautiful smile, even on days when she was not feeling her best. She was faithful to serve in the choir, and to help with the coffee station, always with a smile. I believe she believed in God's plan and trusted him completely, even though I am sure she wasn't happy about it at times. She lived her life with a purpose. She did not stop doing the jobs that God gave her to do, no matter how small.
God, help me to give up the attitude that can come with "retirement." Help me to trust in your plan and purpose for my life and to live it out always with a smile on my face. Help me to always do my work for you with all of heart and soul. Help me to live the example that you have given me through Esther. Help me to be the inspiration to others that she was to me. With all of my love and trust in Jesus' name. Amen.
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