Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Intergenerational programs
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • SALT Appeal
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Rachel’s Day
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Events
  • Belong
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Blog
  • Contact
« Back to WELCA Blog

Work is only one part of life
by Daily Grace

10.26.2018
|
Uncategorized

After a years of throwing myself into my work, I was exhausted, stressed out and lonely. I hadn’t found anything like fulfillment.

What to do? I made a deliberate choice to start paying attention to my actual life–my soul. There was a church near my office, and I started dropping in just to soak up the peace and quiet. Before long, I joined a parish that nourished my soul with the beauty of its worship and the warmth of its community life.

Satisfying as my work is, it isn’t the most important part of my life. It’s contributed to my life, of course, with relationships that have lasted years, and so much more.

It took me years to figure out that work is only part of life. It’s in the other parts of life–family (human and otherwise), friends, parish life, home–and hobbies!–where we really find fulfillment.

This message is an excerpt from the blog “Hobbies remind us that work isn’t everything” by Audrey Novak Riley. Today we remember Philipp Nicolai, who died in 1608; Johann Heermann, who died in 1647; and Paul Gerhardt, who died in 1676; hymnwriters.

Do you enjoy these free Daily Grace messages? If so, donate now to further the ministry.

Share this post

Categories

  • Post (1,370)
  • News (309)
    • Gathering 2021 (9)
    • Triennial Convention 2021 (7)
    • Just Love Gathering 2023 (3)
    • Triennial Convention 2023 (1)
  • Devotions (98)
  • 2122 (10)
  • Gathering 2026 (2)
  • SALT Appeal (1)
  • Uncategorized (1)
Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.