Transforming our Work into Prayer

Dear Readers,

Wishing you a great week and a Happy Tuesday!

My job recruiting interns and entry-level talent for an agricultural company keeps me connected to college campuses. I will soon be traveling on my Fall career fair circuit, which I really enjoy. I often find my brain slipping into the semester mindset. I was the nerd in college who loved syllabus week—getting all the course details and grading scales and living for the oh-so-satisfactory feeling of hand-writing my class schedule into my color-coordinated planner. We spend a great deal of our lives as young adults planning for the future and finding that “dream job.” 

Why do we ask children at such a young age what they want to be when they grow up? I recognize the value of having dreams, but our society has turned “dreaming” into a performance expectation. Young children have only been exposed to maybe five different types of jobs or career fields. Why isn’t the question, "Who do you want to become?" = Kind, a mother, a good friend, a leader, etc.

The emphasis should be on WHO we are, and WHOSE we are, not what we can do. This rings true for every age and stage in life. 

Our educational lives often begin at Pre-K and continue for about 15-18 more years, some more and some less. We get used to experiencing change and transitions every 12-18 months. Then we dive into our careers, and time becomes a funny thing. I am sure you have heard of the work grind or Sunday Scaries. We spend a great deal of time preparing for our careers and vocations, and then we get to said career/vocation and might ask ourselves, “What’s next?” I think getting bogged down in work and feeling run down is very normal. Our work and personal lives bleed together; there is no escaping that. So now more than ever, how do we navigate stress, work, and home life effectively?  How can we navigate the curveballs life throws at us with grace? What tools do we have at our disposal to make the best of each day? 

Offer it up - the good and the bad. When we ask the Lord to transform our work into a form of worship, our mindset shifts completely. 

Picture in your mind this image: 

Bring to your mind your favorite church in the whole world. As you pick your seat in the church, you are facing the altar and are struck by the beauty of the Church. Imagine removing the weight from your shoulders and placing it on the altar. Bring everything to the altar - to the Father - as an offertory. A gift to be bestowed upon the Lord.

The toil to provide for our families is a large commitment. It’s not always fulfilling and life-giving, but what we build in our homes is. Bring your emails, phone calls, word documents, and all your planning to the altar. Give it to him so that He might glorify it.

I found a few helpful resources for navigating professional work that I wanted to share on the blog! 

#1 - A Prayer before beginning a new workday 

 Sourced from the Laudate App 

#2 St. Joseph the Worker Prayer

Sourced from the Laudate App 

#3 Our Work and Personal Lives Bleed Together 

Through my work experience, I have noticed that women tend to internalize and break down work conflict. For example, a co-worker might send you an email that seems rude or direct. We dissect the emotion behind someone’s comment/behavior and ask ourselves - “Did I do something wrong?” It’s all too easy to become frustrated and annoyed with co-workers. 90% of work stressors when someone is “having a bad day” are due to something happening at home in their personal life. It is important to point out that old wounds do not excuse bad behavior but shed light on a person’s actions.  

• Am I judging someone based on their worst day? What would others think of me if they decided what type of person I am based on my poorest moment? 

• You can attract more bees with honey. Extend grace when you can - especially if you can offer a listening ear if someone is going through some personal trials. 

#4 Implement a No Complaining Rule 

This rule is very straightforward - you are not allowed to complain if you aren’t willing to offer up two potential solutions. 

Do you find yourself constantly in a negative loop? Constant negativity in circles or groups will bleed into all the other areas of your lives. It’s not healthy and will bog you down with a physical weight. Is there an area in your life that would benefit from a “no complaining rule”? 

Lady K’s One Thing: 

My favorite English Breakfast Tea to transition into Fall! Tetley British Blend Tea https://bit.ly/3X31NHh

It’s a hot tea that is smooth, yummy and is perfect with a splash of milk and sugar. 

Thanks for being here! You are amazing!

Always Learning,