I’m blessed enough to have been born in a place and time when my work hours were reasonable. So by default, it was balanced. I suppose, work ate into my home life through study, which I enjoyed for the most part, and stress, which was partly my own fault for ruminating about work issues at home.
I’m sort of retired now, but I might work again if I find something that I enjoy. I never craved overtime as much as some others did, but being a morning person, I was always happy to work extra hours in the early morning. I usually start sinking in the afternoons, so I wouldn’t be very effective working late, especially as most of my work required concentration.
I’ve always found work enjoyable, however much I grumbled. Very often it’s the people you work with who make all the difference. And I’m not only grateful to my work friends throughout my life, but also to all those who’ve worked hard in the past to make Ireland what it is today. And it isn’t just Irish people who did that.
Also, my wife enjoyed raising the children at home and never really wanted a career, though she did have part-time jobs when they got older. That clearly helped. But I do admire women who try to balance the two, but it isn’t easy. And with rocketting house prices, it’s much more difficult for women to stay at home nowadays.
Because this is an evangelistic blog, I always like to add some Christian material. So here goes: What Makes Work Christian, a 9Marks article about the Christian and work, and an old hymn; Work for Jesus. And that isn’t only explicitly Christian work, but all work can be seen as a work for Jesus.
Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Hibernia Gospel 