Taking Pride

This weekend a friend of mine was telling me a story about his family's new housekeeper. He recently relocated with his family here from Guam, so the whole idea of even having a housekeeper is new to them. Anyway, he was talking about how impressed he was with her and what a wonderful job she does. He was bragging about how great she can cook. He said every day when he gets home from work, the kids are clean and fed, the table is set and she would bring out the food so him and his wife could eat while she would entertain the kids in the family room (since they had already eaten). He talked about how she would even make garnishes for the food she cooked. For example, she had made them some scrambled eggs the other day and she layed out some lettuce leaves on the plate, then put the scrambled eggs inside them and garnished the dish with sliced tomatoes. He was so excited talking about all the fancy garnishes she made for the diffrent dishes she cooked. He couldn't be more pleased about having her work for him.

His story really got me thinking...Here is this woman whose job is to cook, clean and watch someone Else's children(four for that matter). Not an easy task by any means...and yet, she is so happy to have her job and to takes such pride in what she does even down to garnishing the dished she cooks for her employer.

Our Gardener, Arnold, is the same way..His job is to cut the grass and trim the hedges for our landlord and ourselves. Our combined lawn is huge! No easy task! Yet he takes such pride in his work and what he does. He takes the time to bush cut under all the hedges and various flowers scattered throughout the yard, then he mows the main portion, he meticulously trims each bush and makes sure that all the hedges are straight, he plants flowers, papaya, and other various plants around the houses (on an almost daily basis) and then he takes the time to prune and water those plants. He picks up any fallen leaves, trash or other unsightly things on the lawns...He does this day in and day out...rain or shine...and always with a big smile on his face...He's "the bomb" when it comes to gardening!

Both of these people have inspired me and taught me a lesson about taking pride in what you do...No matter how menial the task at hand is. Whether it be at home, work or elsewhere, whatever I may be doing, I think about the housekeeper and the farmer and I try to put "a little extra" into what I'm doing and do my best at it...No matter what job you do, its important to someone and it should be important to you.

Can you imagine what a much better place it would be if everyone had the attitude of the housekeeper and the farmer and would take Pride in their work/job??



The beautiful Sunflowers Arnold planted a couple months ago. It's a shame they only bloom once then die :(