Sloth

I have to admit that I am rather judgmental about the laziness of others. We all have those days when we lay around the house in our pajamas watching TV all day.  I think those days are beneficial in some strange way.  When that lazy day turns to habitual laziness we have a problem.  When we start believing the world and our government owes us something, there is a problem.  When we are highly capable of working, even in the current economy, yet we are content to sit around taking handouts, there is something wrong.

Don’t get me wrong, there are times we all need a helping hand.  There is a difference between accepting assistance in the wake of a hurricane or sudden job loss and simply expecting others to give you everything you need.  I recently heard of a 16 year old pregnant girl being told about all the government assistance she could get if she chose to keep her baby instead of giving it up for adoption.  I was appalled. I doubt the government helped her get pregnant.

We have somehow slipped into a nation of people expecting others to do for us what we can do for ourselves.  I see all of these people of retirement age working at Walmart and McDonald’s.  I used to think they just wanted to get out of the house, but I have come to realize they need the money due to decrease in Social Security, rising cost of living and prescriptions.

I grew up on a farm and so maybe my work ethic is a little different than others, but it doesn’t need to be.  Are we raising our children to work for the things they want or are we simply giving it to them?  Are we instilling good work ethics, appreciation for what we have?  Are we teaching them to use their time wisely?    When my grandmother died at the age of 78, she was two weeks away from getting her GED.  She was taking water-ballet classes and had joined a choir.  She never stopped learning, living, loving and laughing.

A few months ago I lost my job of five and a half years.  The first few days it would have been so easy to allow myself to wallow in self-pity and do nothing.  I have prayed to have the strength to seek employment daily, do small jobs for people for minimal pay, to make a job for myself where there was none. If we do not “plow in season“, come harvest time we will find nothing.  I can’t imagine that if I sit on the couch all day that someone will knock on my door to offer me a job.  I can’t imagine not having any drive or ambition to accomplish anything.  Laziness can lead to poor health, low self-esteem, lack of hope, and low self-confidence.

I often say, “I wish there was more time in the day”.  I didn’t get the laundry done, the floors went unmopped yet another day, etc.  Then, I sit down and reflect on how I spent my day….disgust comes quickly when I realize how much time I spent on Facebook, playing Wii, texting friends, watching TV,  etc.

I challenge you to finish the projects you have started.  I challenge you to get off the couch and find something productive to do today for yourself and those around you.  I challenge you to “plow in season”.  I challenge you to honestly look at how you spend your day.  Was it wasted on meaningless activities?  Today is all we are guaranteed, no time to be lazy.