Working Men

According to David Bahnsen, author of the book Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life, millions of men are not working and neither are they seeking to work. It is not because there is a shortage of jobs, but because there is, “A collapse of will.” 

Even though the federal government shut down “non-essential employees,” on October 1, Bahnsen argues that there is really no such thing as non essential workers because every human being is created to be a worker, a producer, a co-creator with God.

I agree with Bahnsen’s premise that God made every person to build, to serve, to make something of the world. Our lives are made better by working and when we make our life better it makes someone else’s life better too.

When my husband was 16, his father died of a heart-attack at the age of 42. My husband’s father was a truck driver who, out of necessity, spent more time on the road and behind the wheel of a truck than at home. The influence he had on his three sons was short and after his death, nil. 

Thankfully, there were other working men in my husband’s life, three uncles who influenced and guided him. They kept an eye on him, and called him to work alongside them; roofing houses, putting up hay and herding cattle. These uncles of his showed him that there was no lack of work and no reason not to work. 

By the time my husband turned 18 and graduated from high school, he knew how to work. At the age of  22, he knew what kind of work he wanted to commit himself to; building houses. 

When I met my husband, he was working full-time building pole buildings all over the Northwest. When we married he found work with a local carpenter and for the last 45 years, and past his prime age of working, he built and continues to build houses.

While I raised our sons and ran the business of our household, my husband donned his tool belt and rain, shine, snow or sleet, he went out to work. 

Sometimes, our oldest son went to work with his dad where he learned to swing a hammer, use a tape measure and don a tool belt. Now he too builds houses.

All three of our sons learned the value and worth of work while watching their father as he diligently went to work. 

Why Bother?

Why bother being grateful for working men? Being grateful for working men is transformative to us and them. A grateful heart can’t help but make our lives and their lives better.

P.S.  I wrote the story of my journey to forgiveness for those who, like me, know they need to change, but are not quite sure where to start. You can find A Heart’s Journey To Forgiveness at Redemption Press and Amazon.