Every Labor Day, our family, along with invited friends, went to Rocky Point Park for food and amusement rides as a last “treat” before school started the following Wednesday. We were loaded into the “beach wagon” and I mean loaded. It was the days when there were no seat belts, no car seats, and we were packed in like sardines. The songs blaring over the loudspeakers were memorable, “Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy says of summer!” “Ramblin’ Rose” and of course, “Summertime, Summertime!” On the way home all the kids were fast asleep.
As kids, we didn’t know the meaning of Labor Day. We just knew it was the last weekend of summer and we were going back to school. This weekend we will pray for all those who are employed, unemployed and underemployed. As you take time to relax this weekend, thank God for the gift of your employment and raise up in prayer all who are seeking employment or seeking to better their employment circumstances.
I found this prayer for Labor Day: “Let those who labor work in peace, in freedom, and without fear. Give those in need a job to do, and to the tired, well-earned rest. Let all our toil and labor, Lord, give glory to your name. Amen.”
This weekend, and all long weekends, I invite my family who are not traveling, which is usually us older folks, to gather on Sunday afternoon for a cookout and conversation. This weekend I will give everyone an opportunity to share their memories of past Labor Days. I wonder what will be shared. It will be an interesting “discussion starter!”
As the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer” come to a close, may we be eager to enter into an exciting time of learning and deepening our relationship with Jesus Christ and growing our faith community.