Resting from Labor

It is Labor day, a holiday that has always confused me since we celebrate Labor day by not laboring. That's like celebrating Thanksgiving by being ungrateful, or Sunday with rain. It just doesn't compute.

But it is particularly fitting for our tired agility dog. She worked hard, and won many awards this weekend, and now today, we rest from our labor. We celebrate what should be more aptly named Lazy Day.

Yesterday, Honeybun trotted somewhat tiredly to another first place "Q" (qualifying score) in her Standard class, and then raced to a  third place "Q" in her "Fast" class.  When she came out of the ring, surprising all of us with her speed which she is not known for, our mentor Polly asked Asherel, "What was the difference, do you think?"
"Hot dogs," replied Asherel.
Ah! If that was all it took to perk us up before the great starting lines in life! We wouldn't need Labor Days to not Labor. We would all want to labor 24/7.

Asherel had a particularly fun trial this time. She had just met a fellow homeschooler her age who loves dogs, horses, and kayaking. She heard about Hollow Creek Farm and is dying to come volunteer with us the next time we can carve some time to get out there. She begged her mom to let her come to the trial, and spent the whole time there with Asherel. I had been praying for several weeks for a perfect friend to materialize for Asherel. She loves people and the circle of friends she had last year seem to have all drifted to new things. Asherel is a remarkably content person, but she needed a friend that shared these things she loves so much. And then this delightful and sweet and fun friend appeared out of nowhere. Out of prayer into existence!

When I went to introduce the friend's mother to Arvo, I told him, "Arvo, this is Faith."
"Faith" glanced at me, and said, "Leigh. My name is Leigh. Pleased to meet you."

Now I get a bye, as I had only met Leigh a couple of days ago, but we had exchanged some emails, and her name was signed on them all.  Yet not a day later as she left her daughter at the show with us and I was plugging her name into my phone, I again typed, "Faith."

"I don't know why I keep calling you Faith," I said, "I just can't get that out of my head."
"Perhaps because of an answer to prayer?" she asked, smiling.

Yes. And that is the antidote to Labor fatigue.  Faith. Faith is God's "hotdog"- the enticement that keeps us sprinting through the race of life, our eyes lazer-trimmed on the last jump, the end goal. Faith that God is in control, and His ways are perfect whether we understand them or not. By faith, we walk and don't grow faint, we run and don't grow weary. By faith, we all "Q" and enter into a well deserved rest at the finish line.

 Isaiah 40: 28-31
 ²⁸ Do you not know?
       Have you not heard?
       The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
       He will not grow tired or weary,
       and his understanding no one can fathom.
 ²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
       and increases the power of the weak.
 ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
       and young men stumble and fall;
 ³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.





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