Faithful Workers

We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I love the library. There’s something comforting about the dusty smell of the pages and row upon row of colorful books lined up and ready to be opened. I love placing holds online for new releases and picking them up when they’ve arrived at my local library, but simply browsing the shelves for unique finds is fun too. Taking home as many as I want feels like a sweet luxury.

Living in a rural area of Northern Minnesota, my aunt Delpha doesn’t have access to the same kind of library that I do. The closest town has another type of library altogether: a bookmobile. As a child, I was delighted by the idea of a library on wheels, driving from town to town. What an ingenious way to get books to people!

But even though I appreciate the bookmobile, it’s made me realize how easy it is to take for granted the many public services that help our society function. Because I live in a populated area, I’ve come to expect access to resources like libraries, schools, and emergency services. If an ambulance didn’t arrive during an emergency or my children didn’t have a school to attend, I would be concerned. Yet hundreds—if not thousands—of people work to make those services a reality for my local community.

In the New Testament, Paul, along with Silas and Timothy, writes a letter to the church in Thessalonica. Before offering advice, he begins with gratitude, thanking the believers for their faithful work. He recognizes that though the church is imperfect, what they need first is encouragement. The members have been doing the work faithfully, and Paul acknowledges their efforts.

Are we able to do the same and bite our tongue on the advice we long to give and instead focus on the faithfulness of the worker, especially those who serve a public role? We can sometimes be tempted to point out areas for improvement rather than thank them for the good in what they do. When we focus on gratitude rather than criticism, we honor others in their work for the community’s good.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Thank someone who serves the public in their role.