The solicitude of parents
The anxiety of Joseph and Mary over the lost child Jesus brings to our thoughts the solicitude of parents, either the father or the mother, in working so hard to provide for the needs of the child in the family. Working hard to earn for the welfare of the children is a concrete way of showing our love for the growing generation. Work then could also be seen as our tangible contribution for the future of humanity—the growing children who will eventually be the father of the upcoming generation. The concern for the welfare of the child and the welfare of the future of society could be considered by the worker as greater and more valuable aspects in bearing the sacrifices and pain in work.
The workers, I think, need to remind themselves or be reminded about these greater or deeper reasons for spending their life and energy at work. A habitual focus on these aspects could inspire the workers to persevere in doing well their jobs. Otherwise, the anxieties usually caused by work and various work related demands could overcome the workers' drive to carry on in doing well the tasks. Likewise, the fears that workers continue to feel in the workplace, such as, security in the job, insufficient earnings for the family, human and professional demands in the job, health, and many others, could weaken the energies and determination to excel in the job performance. Instead, I think it is easy to imagine, a tired and almost exhausted father coming home quickly from work to hug and keep joyfully his little child in his arms. His fatigue would simply melt as he feels the tender and frail body of his baby; the child's smile or his serene face at sleep, could easily wipe away the fatigue on the face of the working father. Indeed, the child truly gives the worker greater reason to love his life and work.
Jesus also loves children; He wants His believers to "let the children come to Him". The worker's concern for his children through his work could also be his way of bringing them to Christ, who became a Child too.