Verse has been lifetime of encouragement

I was in sixth grade at Highland Elementary school when I discovered the meaning of Colossians 3:23:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.”

Little did I realize it as a child, but that verse has proved to be an encouragement to me all of my life.

I was a cafeteria helper in the sixth grade. Mrs. Foster was the supervisor, and I felt so important being her helper, and I felt privileged to be one of the sixth graders chosen to work.

For this job, my sister Susie and I received free lunch. I knew that helped my parents out a little but, most important, the job in the cafeteria made me feel really good.

The lunchroom routine at Highland was outlined to the detail. The lunchroom workers would have to haul the dirty dishes and trays back to the kitchen in the main part of the school building and then put them through the washing machines. Then we would put them in the dryer, load them into shopping carts and take them back into the all-purpose room where the food was served.

I felt much responsibility toward Mrs. Foster. She ran an efficient operation and she needed my help. The more she praised me, the harder I worked.

One day I was assigned to wiping down tables. There was some kind of glitch in the kitchen washing area and we got backed up and we ran out of clean trays. Needless to say, Mrs. Foster was frustrated.

So at the end of the lunch hour, Mrs. Foster announced she was going to put me in the kitchen for the next day and in charge of getting all the trays washed.

Mrs. Foster told me she could depend upon me. I took that seriously. Why, I even felt like the feeding of the whole Highland Elementary was on my shoulders.

The next day I did my best and got those trays washed and delivered back to Mrs. Foster. At the end of that school lunch hour she said to me: “Kid, I knew that I could count on you.”

How filled with satisfaction I was when Mrs. Foster praised me. I had come through for her.

Early on I discovered a job well done increased my self-worth. Mrs. Foster had said that she had confidence in me and that just made my self-esteem soar. I discovered the satisfaction of work, even at such a menial job.

I contend that this satisfaction from work goes back to the beginning of time. God put Adam to work in the Garden of Eden. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15)

Evidently God wanted Adam to feel the pride of work, the dignity of being responsible and the satisfaction of an admirable endeavor.

Further, work brings an earthly benefit: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23)

Not only that, if we commit our work to the Lord, he promises to guide us. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)

Whatever our work may be, we are commanded to work to the glory of God. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Why do I remember the Mrs. Foster story? The job was not difficult and I know I certainly made no difference in the great scheme of things. But at that time in my life, the job with Mrs. Foster taught me the priceless lesson of the satisfaction in work and the feeling of a job well done.

Judy Brandon writes about faith for the Clovis News Journal. Contact her at:

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