The Four Things for a Successful Family Life: Part 3 Work Together
Part 3: Work Together (Find more information on Part One here and Part Two here)
3. Work Together
“Work well done is work done with love. To have a proper regard for the task we are engaged in is, perhaps, the first step in ennobling it and raising it to the level of the supernatural. We have to put our heart into the things we do…”
Which brings us to working together. Working together in the home helps the children to learn that it takes all of us to help the home be a peaceful, orderly place. That’s how children “earn their keep.” By modeling work in the home, it teaches children how to be generous givers in the community. Our friends from Gunnison, CO had a quote, “No one is done, till we’re all done!” This quote is great for two reasons. It builds family camaraderie and unity, and it teaches the children that we are not put here for ourselves. We need each other, that many hands make light work, and we have a common purpose of completing the task, and ultimately, to getting to heaven.
Work is a necessity in life and an important skill set for children to learn towards adulthood. Employment merely for a paycheck or for personale fulfillment leads to boredom and burnout; only work that becomes significant because of its purpose is truly fulfilling. The important thing to understand is that any kind of work can become meaningful and significant if one finds the purpose. Because what truly matters in life, in the end, is mattering-making a difference.
“Money motivates neither the best people, nor the best in people. Purpose does.” Nilofer Merchant
Finding meaning or purpose in work, implies finding how to love others through the service of work. Family life finds a balance with work at home such as family projects, daily and weekly chores. At Fiat Family Fest, some have wondered why each family is asked to provide some service or talents towards childcare, entertainment, general facilities or service in the Mass. Work is essential, even at a retreat, because in serving others, you and your family add graces for yourselves and you can see directly how your service benefits others. It is with great gratitude and humility, to see other families participating before, during and after the retreat to help promote and build it up. A meaningful childcare program that is built specifically for you, because it was built by people like you. Families that grow closer because they not only work on the retreat together, but since they have poured their time and energy into it-they are more passionate about the purpose of the mission. That is why work by families is essential to its success.