Just Another Work Day
Labor Day, so what? It’s just a day you don’t have to work, right? No, dear supervisor, it is more than that and a good time to take you down a history lane.
It is about the only American holiday that does not celebrate a battle won, either as a country or as a religion. It is totally a National tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well being of our country. To use the day to simply celebrate not having to work just seems wrong.
Did you realize the little parade in your village or city with its military band, speeches, the tractors and big equipment, kids riding floats all stem from legislation? The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances in the years of 1885-86. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation, the first passing in New York in 1887. By the end of the decade, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September each year a legal holiday the District of Columbia and the territories. By these decrees, the form of the observance and celebration of Labor Day had a defined outline with a street parade, showing public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation of the workers and their families. Speeches by prominent men and women were instituted for more emphasis on economic and civic significance. In 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of labor.
The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has been the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is through the American workers that this nation has continued its strength, freedom, and leadership.
As you celebrated Labor Day’s gift of a day not working, you may want to consider the gift you have received from generations of American workers. Their hard work, their devotion to Godly standards at home and in the workplace, their values and ingenuity have all brought the gifts of a day without work to you on September 4, 2006.
Take a moment to count your Blessings and give thanks to the Maker who has allowed you and me to be in this great country, with its great work force, making products that improve the world and the choices to do just that!
II Thessalonians 3:7-14 “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: not because we have not power but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they, work and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, not that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.”
Through scripture, Paul told us we are to work and toil for our bread. Through that kind of hard work, Americans (you and I) can celebrate the bounty of God’s wondrous gifts on Labor Day and every day.
It is about the only American holiday that does not celebrate a battle won, either as a country or as a religion. It is totally a National tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well being of our country. To use the day to simply celebrate not having to work just seems wrong.
Did you realize the little parade in your village or city with its military band, speeches, the tractors and big equipment, kids riding floats all stem from legislation? The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances in the years of 1885-86. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation, the first passing in New York in 1887. By the end of the decade, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September each year a legal holiday the District of Columbia and the territories. By these decrees, the form of the observance and celebration of Labor Day had a defined outline with a street parade, showing public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation of the workers and their families. Speeches by prominent men and women were instituted for more emphasis on economic and civic significance. In 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of labor.
The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has been the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is through the American workers that this nation has continued its strength, freedom, and leadership.
As you celebrated Labor Day’s gift of a day not working, you may want to consider the gift you have received from generations of American workers. Their hard work, their devotion to Godly standards at home and in the workplace, their values and ingenuity have all brought the gifts of a day without work to you on September 4, 2006.
Take a moment to count your Blessings and give thanks to the Maker who has allowed you and me to be in this great country, with its great work force, making products that improve the world and the choices to do just that!
II Thessalonians 3:7-14 “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: not because we have not power but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they, work and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, not that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.”
Through scripture, Paul told us we are to work and toil for our bread. Through that kind of hard work, Americans (you and I) can celebrate the bounty of God’s wondrous gifts on Labor Day and every day.
posted by Diane Gibson at
7:35 AM
