During the pandemic, essential workers kept America alive. One of those was New Yorker Gustavo Ajeche.
Gustavo immigrated from Guatemala in 2004 and started to rebuild his life. By day he works construction. When he leaves that job, he goes to his second job, delivering food to New York’s financial district. His wife was a nanny for a Manhattan family.
Gustavo has little but responsibilities. He cares for his family and supports an extended family in Guatemala. His jobs bring him little recognition until the pandemic hit. Then, he and other essential workers proved their worth.
He said,
“The pandemic was hard, but it taught me I can help. I would come home exhausted, but hearing ‘gracias” or ‘God bless you,’ that was beautiful. I’ll never forget my roots in Guatemala. I struggled for my community. But I feel like a real New Yorker now.”
We need a “well done” from time to time. It is the oxygen of the soul.
That’s why Jesus reminded those who labored for the kingdom not to give up. A day would come that would make it worth it all. In what we call the parable of the talents, a simple servant hears the words of praise from God himself.
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:21)
Life can be difficult, and Christianity is challenging at times. But we live for a time when God himself will say, “well done.” Keep going!
-Robert G. Taylor-
