Recently we took a weekend off and went to very special place in New Mexico that has been part of our family for over thirty years. It is a rustic mountainside cabin that my father-in-law, Don Salter, designed and built. He did virtually all the work on it himself, and he put so much of his heart into it, that being there feels almost like seeing him again.
Since his passing last summer, we have only been up a couple of times, and it is bittersweet. Now “the kids” have to take up the maintenance chores, and it was while I was on the roof cleaning out gutters that I had a moment of clarity about a passage of Scripture that I want to share.
I need to preface by telling you a little bit about my father-in-law. He was a first generation American, the son of British immigrants who settled in Massachusetts. He was a patriot…exactly the fearless type of man who fought for American independence. Even though he was proud to be a Texan from the end of World War II on, Texas never took the edge off of that crusty, very plainspoken New Englander.
You always knew where you stood with Don Salter…whether you wanted to or not. I appreciated his honesty, and earning his regard is something I will always treasure.
Scooting along the edge of that sheet-metal roof, I was admiring his workmanship, and thinking about the day when we were installing those roof panels that he had so painstakingly fabricated in his home workshop. Then my thoughts meandered back forty years to the first time I was in that shop, asking him for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
As I was scooping pine needles out of the gutters, just being thankful that Don had given us that wonderful place of sanctuary that we all love, I realized that I was taking great care to do the work just the way he would have wanted it done… because it was for him. It was to honor him. It was out of respect and love, even though he was not there to see it or appreciate it.
Work as unto the Father…
That was the only part of the Scripture I could recall, and I couldn’t remember where it was in the Bible…but it came to mind. It just struck me that when we do whatever work we do, approaching it with a thankful heart and a desire to show honor and respect to our Heavenly Father for His provision, just as I realized I was cleaning gutters out of grateful respect for my father-in-law, it will result in us doing better work, and the work taking on a new importance. And the burden gets lighter.
In Dependence!
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:22-24
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