What to do with that job you hate …
It hung on the wall opposite the toilet. A brilliant spot when you think about it. An old wooded frame, small but readable print. I never made it to double-digits in that house, but the framed quote still comes to mind, often when I first rise in the morning, even though I haven’t seen it in 22 years. From Charles Kingsley, more than 150 years ago:
““Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do which must be done, whether you like it or not. Being forced to work, and forced to do your best, will breed in you temperance, self-control, diligence, strength of will, content, and a hundred other virtues which the idle never know.”
Isn’t there something in your soul which agrees, amen, to this truth? Perhaps it’s my personality, or a little too much Martha in my veins, but I am so grateful that God gives us purposeful work to do each day. I love me a good job to do.
But at times I need to be reminded of this, of the blessing of all work, especially when the work includes grumpy people (of whom I’m usually chief!), a hundred interruptions, or spending long periods of time on hold with Comcast.
I’d rather scrub the toilet by hand than wait on hold with Comcast.
Anyway, isn’t part of gratitude thanking God for whatever work He’s given us each day? We know that work is not the curse, good and purposeful work was given before the curse. The struggle of work is part of the curse, work itself is not.
Sometimes I love my to-do list, sometimes I do not. What’s your “it” job? The one you avoid? The one that causes the grumbles to bubble up in your soul?
Name it. Then thank God for it.
Thank God for that work. That job. That thing.
Then eat your frog.
You know, your frog. That same one thing, one job that you avoid doing. Loathe doing. Grumble about doing.
Do it first.
Very first thing, after your fill-your-cup morning routine: Eat that frog and be done with it. You’ll have so much more energy having conquered the worst part of your day, and everything else will feel like dessert to-dos after already swallowing the frog-part. Tsh Oxenreider lists this as the first step to simplifying life, quoting Mark Twain:
“Eat a live frog every morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day."
Such a simple habit that reaps beautiful rewards. Every morning, thank God for work. Thank Him, by faith, for the “worst” work you have ahead. Then get that worst part over with. Whether it’s exercising or scrubbing toilets or doing the laundry, git ‘er done and enjoy the rest of your day.
Who knows, between the gratitude and go-after-it attitude you might even find yourself enjoying that frog. Unless, of course, it involves calling Comcast … But as Ann Voskamp would say, miracles follow thanksgiving, so anything is possible. {Thanks for reading, now go thank God and devour that frog!}