When I was young, I always wondered about the day we US folks celebrate as Labor Day.  Why do we call it Labor Day, when we don’t work?  Where I grew up, it was a big thing – parades, picnics, and a general celebratory sense were part of the day.  But it never felt quite as much a celebration as other “holidays” like the Fourth of July or Thanksgiving.  It felt kind of odd, kind of like the question that made me wonder in the first place.  Why call it Labor Day when we don’t work?

It wasn’t until I was older, got a part-time job, and was chased for months by a union steward to join the grocery workers union, that I began to understand something of the organized labor movement in real life.  Once again, I was a little confused by the term, but for a different reason.  I know how to work – I’ve been almost continuously employed since I was age 10 – and I’ve always put in a hard day’s work for what I was paid.  In my limited experience, I was laboring, and I was paid fairly for it.  It was a normal part of life that worked well for me, whether or not there was a labor union involved.

I don’t for a moment hesitate to celebrate all the hard-working people who keep things going for our society and culture to continue.  The relative abundance we enjoy is in large part due to folks who put in a hard day’s work.  I find it odd that we set aside a day – one day a year – to rest and celebrate.  It’s kind of like Thanksgiving in that respect.  I offer thanks often, and don’t feel the need to set aside a certain day for its celebration.  Why should I only celebrate labor once a year?

I guess a big part of my wonderment about Labor Day is because I already celebrate a day of rest each week.  I know it’s out of style and many have forgotten its meaning.  That doesn’t stop me, though.  It’s called Sabbath, but it might as well be called Labor Day for what it represents.  It is a celebration of God’s provision through our work the rest of the week, and a day of faith, trusting God will provide even when we don’t work, but spend our day celebrating Him.  It has a unifying character to it – those who share in Sabbath are a brotherhood/sisterhood of sorts, a union born of those with a similar occupation and priorities focused on Jesus Christ.  I am represented by the best a human being can get – Jesus Christ (God Incarnate), interceding for me daily before the mightiest and most righteous judge in the universe, God Himself (see Romans 8:34).

As for me, I will celebrate a “labor day” of sorts every week, not just once a year.  I will offer thanks for those who work hard in our world to provide for themselves and others.  I will happily and whole-heartedly support those who cannot work, for whatever reason.  I will even more celebrate the God who makes it all possible by blessing the fruits of our labor (see Deuteronomy 28:12) and sent a perfect representative for anyone who is willing to accept Him.  I will “remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy.” (Exod. 20:8 CEB)  Will you join me?