Last weekend as we walked around the neighborhood, my husband and I admired the many trees full of apples, pears, and peaches. I said to him, “Why didn’t God make chocolate trees?” Wouldn’t it be great to pick a Hershey bar or even special dark chocolate off a tree! Then I added, “Well, He did give us cocoa plants. I guess He left it up to us to figure out how to turn that into something delicious.”
In addition to providing us with fruit and other food, God has generously allowed us to experience the joy of creating all kinds of wonderful items made from the basics. We’ve learned how to make ice cream from milk, bread from wheat, and wine from grapes. Can you imagine the excitement the ancient peoples felt when they first tasted rich chocolate?
God didn’t make chocolate trees because, in His wisdom, He knows that we learn patience and the value of hard work when we have to put in some effort to get what we want. We appreciate it more. Picking tomatoes off the vine that we planted and watered for many weeks is incredibly more satisfying than picking one out of the bin at the grocery store. Also, just as loving parents don’t give their child everything he wants when he wants it, in His love for us God doesn’t give us everything we want, either. We may want chocolate to be as readily available as the fruit that grows on trees, but fruit contains vitamins and nutrients that help keep our body functioning properly. Chocolate? Not so much.
This appreciation goes far beyond growing food, too. Maybe you’ve felt happy in your work when you finally solved a problem, discovered something new, or finished a project you’d been working on for a long time.
All work is valuable. Through it we learn, produce, and interact with other people. Some work we get paid to do; other work may keep our household running smoothly or benefit the community in some way. Everything we do can be considered sacred if we do it to the best of our ability and thank God for the opportunity and the people we work with. Whether we work in a chocolate factory or are a stay-at-home parent, the work itself is less important than the way we do it.
As Augustine of Hippo said, “I will suggest a means whereby you can praise God all day long, if you wish. Whatever you do, do it well, and you have praised God.”
“May the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us!” – Psalm 90:17
“Lord, thank You for letting me see the value of my work. Help me to do it to the best of my ability, and always with love.”
Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell Comments are always welcome!
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P.S.
We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/...
P.P.S. If you’re able to help the people of Maui, here are a few organizations that are accepting donations:
The Hawaii Community Foundation
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