A working Man

Lee has lately been reentering his former life of a "working man".  Following our breakfast together, he begins planning his day.  Sometimes he is planning his entire week. When the weather is nice, his plans are to travel a short distance or to find something to do here on the farm that does not include working around hazardous materials ( soil, hay, dust, etc.).  He has been spending more time in his shop out back and it is good to hear him discussing ways to repair or fix something that he uses. 

Yesterday, he and his brother-in-law, Tom, spent most of the afternoon traveling to and from a not too distant golf cart sales store.  They were able to secure Lee's trailer to his truck in preparation for the short journey to Lenoir.  Lee had the strength to be actively involved with the work that was necessary in the transaction of loading the golf cart onto the trailer and unloading it when he returned home.  Last evening as he was talking to his son, Todd, in Charlotte, I overheard him making plans to deliver a tractor to him on Friday.  Todd is planning to remove excess trees and foliage from his back yard, and Lee is now planning to load the John Deere on the trailer and take it to him.  He has invited a neighbor to go along.  At the moment, Lee is working with his bee hives.  He has faithfully been supplementing their food daily, and seems to be enjoying every moment of the work that must be done to keep his hives healthy and thriving.  His plan for this afternoon is to hang some pictures for me in his downstairs "man's room".  A good chore for this cool, rainy October day.

Work is so good for him!  I share another quote from  Kahlil Gibran:

"You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.  For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's proscession that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.  And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.  Work is love made visible."

When we lose our ability to work, due to sickness or an accident, a major part of who we are, and who we have always been, has been removed from our lives.  Lee's love of work, and the satisfaction he receives from being able to make a contribution to not only himself, but others, has been restored.  It has not been restored to the capacity that he had two years ago, but nonetheless, it is returning, and for that I am eternally grateful.  

We are enjoying these bountiful blessings!

More Later..............................Brenda