Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.—Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Sometimes handling all the caregiving responsibilities and doing the same tasks over and over, I can feel like a hamster on its little wheel—moving furiously fast but getting nowhere. I’m surprised we don’t see those little critters pounding on their cage walls squeaking, “Let me out!” 

The other day, feeling a tad grumpy and unappreciated, I came across a beautifully framed list my husband, Jay, gave me years before he suffered his stroke. Below are a few lighthearted entries from “Top 10 Reasons Why I Love and Appreciate my Wife Deborah Lynn” 

“You keep the house running well.” 

“Your social planning.” 

“You laugh at my jokes.” 

I smiled, reading each statement on the list. But the top three reasons most touched my heart: 

“Your insights in God’s Word.”

“Your worshipping around the house.” 

“You love the Lord our God!” 

Reading the words he wrote more than sixteen years ago reminded me that even though he can’t always express it now, Jay has always valued me and still prays for me every day. But the most beautiful and important thing is that my husband acknowledges and praises me not only for what I do for him but for what I do for my love of the Lord.