iWork4Him PowerThought

There have been times in the 37 years of our marriage when one or both of us needed to work a significant amount of extra time to meet a deadline to keep our jobs. The issue comes when that short term becomes all the time. Jim and I started an insurance agency from scratch. We knew that for the first three years, Jim would need to work three nights a week and 4 1/2 days a week to grow the agency's sustainability. We made a point to ensure that we always had a date night and never worked weekends. We agreed together that the investment of time was necessary. But it had a deadline. If your job never stops asking for more and is hurting your family, it may be time to start looking for a new job.

I can't tell you how many times Martha and I have heard this one phrase in a marriage mentoring session. "I work hard so my family can have the things I didn't have when I was a kid." That's all fine and dandy, but usually, we are given that excuse after the spouse feels neglected. That usually spurns a conversation about not feeling appreciated for how hard one spouse works. It creates an argument about all of the stuff they own, which causes them to work so hard to pay for the stuff they own. It's all a vicious circle. You don't need to create a fairytale experience for your children. They just want you. They don't care about all the stuff. Take a step back today and see if your work is hurting the very ones you want to provide for.

I love to work. I love to jump out of bed, get ready for work, and go to work. I spend all day working and come home, and then after dinner, I like to work some more. Working brings energy to me, and working brings satisfaction. I love to work because I love to see things get accomplished. I love checking things off my list. There's a danger in loving work. It's so easy to get caught up in my work that I don't realize that I'm hurting those around me by working so much. There was a time in my life when my job required me to work 60 hours a week—even time on Sunday. Jim and I had to work through balancing my work life and family life. I love to work, but I also don't want to sacrifice everything I love because I love to work.

I work hard, I make money, I pay bills, and I buy stuff. I work hard for my money. I want to bless my family with the things that they need. I have a right to spend the money I make on the things I want, right? If you are married, then there's some caution that needs to be expressed here. The money you make because of your job should go into a common money pot for your family. All of the money that goes in there goes to paying for all the family's bills. There is no such thing as his money and her money In marriage. So when we're out to protect our marriage from our job, it starts with having the right attitude about the money that we make from our job. Don't sacrifice everything that means so much to you because of the money that you make.

We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The final way people feel appreciated at work is through Appropriate Physical Touch. You need to be careful when it comes to touching at work. But expressing appreciation through appropriate physical touch for someone who needs that touch can be as simple as a handshake, a high five, or a pat on the back. In some situations, it might even be a hug of celebration. Any way you look at it, appropriate physical touch must always respect boundaries. Many of those we work alongside have situations that cause them to be very cautious about physical touch. That's why respect is needed. But even hurting people can sometimes appreciate that high five or that meaningful handshake. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.

We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The 4th way people feel appreciated at work is through giving tangible gifts. Giving the gift of words, time, or service is meaningful to many people, but some people just like gifts. And a gift at work could be a simple cup of coffee, a candy bar, or a plaque of appreciation. Sometimes, a gift could be some time off or tickets to a baseball game. When somebody's appreciation language is gifts, all you need to do is find out what's important to them and match the gift. Everyone likes to be appreciated. You can hit a home run every time when their appreciation language is gifts. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.

We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The number three way people feel appreciated at work is through Acts of Service. One of the greatest ways we can show our appreciation for others is by helping others complete a project. It means so much to them when we help somebody at the end of our shift or at the end of our day to finish what they're doing. And sometimes, it's just cleaning the toilet, vacuuming, or helping unload a car full of supplies. Any way you look at it, helping others out of the goodness of your heart with a little act of service can make a real difference in the life of someone you work with. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.

We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The second way people feel appreciated at work is through the gift of Quality Time. Relationships are so important at work. But you can't just build relationships one minute at a time while talking at the water cooler. When you ask somebody how they're doing, mean it. Find out how people are doing. Spend time checking in with them to get to know them. Make sure you have lunch with people and be transparent and authentic with them. If you're a team leader, create time for your team to connect. Make it possible for people to spend time together without a deadline and work hanging over their heads. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.

We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The number one way people feel appreciated at work is through words of affirmation. Words that uplift, words that encourage, words that affirm a person's worth. Words of appreciation spoken by a coworker or a boss mean so much. Almost 50% of the population at work feel that words of affirmation are a gift to them. Are words of affirmation important to you? I bet they are. I also bet they're important to the people you work around. Make sure that those you work with know that words of affirmation build you up and keep you going every day at work And that you could use a few more every day. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.

Every year, people are elected to the local boards of education in your area. How many of them are believers? Less than 10%. Getting on the local school Board of Education does not require a degree; it requires a willingness and obedience to a call from God. As believers, we have walked away from the public school system for far too long, and it is time to take a stand and get involved where possible. The kids of this next public school generation need you. We celebrate you believers who are on your local school Board of Education. You are not alone, but there are far too few of you. Please consider running for your local school Board of Education and serve on a mission field that desperately needs an intervention from God.