A young man came to his teacher with this question, "Who can I get to give me maximum happiness?" The teacher smiled and answered, "Your question reminds me of an old farmer I once knew. Someone asked him how much milk a certain cow gave. He answered, "She doesn't give any. You have to take every drop away from her."

One of the hard lessons we learn is that not many worthwhile things in life are given most have to be earned. It appears that work is part of the plan of God for our lives.  St. Paul believed that. He writes to the Thessalonians: "Now we command you, brethren....keep away from any brother who is living in idleness..." And still further he adds, "If anyone will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. …