No Days Off
- The Narrow Path
- Mar 4, 2022
- 2 min read
For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens (Job 28:24, ESV).
MLK Day. Washington’s Birthday. Memorial Day. Juneteenth National Independence Day. Independence Day. Labor Day. Columbus Day. Veterans Day. Thanksgiving Day. Christmas Day. New Year’s Day.
What do all of those days have in common? Yep, you’re right. They are all Federal holidays that are observed each year, which means all federal employees get these days off with pay. Because I am not a federal employee, I don’t get all those days off, but I am fortunate to get the “big six” (Memorial, Labor, Independence, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day) as paid holidays.
My oldest brother is an employee of the state of Kentucky, so he’s fortunate that he gets a paid day off for all eleven days. Oh, wait! Actually, that’s not true at all. Though he does get paid by the state for those days, my brother is a farmer. And what that means is there are truly no days off.
It was late afternoon on Christmas Day. Thankfully, it was unseasonably warm as I hopped in the truck with my dad. We followed in the truck as my brother got the tractor, hooked up the trailer, and unwrapped the hay bales. We continued to follow behind during the slow ascent to the hilltop where the cattle were grazing, and while he unloaded the bales and removed the net wrap, we spread the mineral feed and hoped nothing would break down along the way.
On a day when most people prefer to stay in their pajamas, my brother has work to do. Yes, it’s a holiday, but no, the cattle don’t know that, and yes, they still need to be fed. For farmers, there truly are no days off. No matter how much progress is made, the job is never done. There are always more animals to feed, hay to cut, grass to mow, equipment to fix, and the list goes on.
That Christmas Day, I found myself feeling particularly thankful, not only for my brother but for every single farmer I know who is so committed to their responsibilities. As committed as they are to always keep watch over their animals and their land, that can’t even come remotely close to the omniscience of our God, who never takes a day off.
Job 28:24 reminds us of the omniscience of God: For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. So, whatever battle you may be facing, remind yourself that we serve a God who, like farmers who care deeply for their animals and their land, always sees, always knows, and will always take care of us.
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