One of our spiritual ancestors named Paul wrote in the holy book called the Bible some wisdom on how to approach the work that we do in this life. There are different categories of work that we all do as we journey in this life on this earth-that the Creator, Jesus, gave us to do. There are also different types of relationships that we have with each other as we journey through our lives.

We have relationships with our spouses and children, and we have relationships with our aunties and uncles and cousins and grandparents. We even have a relationship with our bosses at work. We also have a relationship with the people who oversee us when we do volunteer work in the church or anywhere else in the community. Many of our community celebrations also require a lot of volunteer work: people to cook and clean and plan and even go shopping for food; and it often involves someone to go hunting for some fresh meat for a community event.

All of this, my brothers and sisters in the Lord, is work, and when we work it keeps us physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally focused on something bigger than ourselves. Most of the time, our work benefits more people than just ourselves. Many times these tasks benefit people in ways we will never know or imagine. When that happens this giving of ourselves for work that benefits ourselves and others helps to heal our hearts no matter what has been going on.

Paul wrote in one of his letters called Colossians these insightful words for us today. He says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3: 23-24 ESV).

I have noticed that when I do any kind of work, whether it's paid or volunteer or simply doing work around the house and in the back yard, I find an enjoyment in doing work. I like certain types of work more than other types of work.

I enjoy washing my truck. I like going for wood to use in the fire pit in my back yard. I feel pleasure taking an old wooden chair and sanding it down and applying a new wood stain or varnish to it, and seeing the transformation take place, while preserving the original nature of the chair.

I enjoy gathering the wood I collected and then sitting by the fire and smelling the smoke, and I like the sight of a controlled fire blazing before me with power and force and energy.

Then there are other types of work that I do, that are not so enjoyable. This includes tasks I start that end up being more involved or more difficult than I imagined or realized they would be. During those times I have to remind myself that all the work I do-whether paid or volunteer or my own chores around the house-they all have to be done unto Jesus. Jesus is the one I am serving when I work.

We don't put all of our focus on our boss when we work. Yes, he or she may be the one who pays us, but according to God's Word, our work is ultimately rewarded in heaven when our lives are over. Our full reward is waiting for us on the other side of this life in heaven.

Yes, we receive our pay, or we receive an honorarium for helping at a community event, or we simply receive a thank you for our involvement. Either way our true and full reward is still to come, and that helps to heal my heart when I feel tired, or when I feel like I took on too much, or when I wonder if what I am doing is making a difference.

When I am feeling out of sorts or tired, I run to God's Word in His holy book that our spiritual ancestors wrote, to help heal my heart no matter what is going on.

Our columnist Parry Stelter has written and published a book entitled A Word of Hope for My Aboriginal People. He also has a radio program broadcast on several Western Canada stations. Find the stations carrying his program on his website: http://www.wordofhopeministries.ca

Parry Stelter is originally from Alexander First Nation and is founder of Word of Hope Ministries and lives in Edmonton, Alberta. http://www.wordofhopeministries.ca