“I’ll help clean up the dishes.”

           The words were music to Deb’s ears. She threw her husband a grateful glance. What a day. They’d finally gotten the kids to bed after they’d struggled with various symptoms of the flu all day. All Deb wanted was to collapse on the sofa.

            As Sam finished carrying the dinner plates to the kitchen, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and raised his eyebrows. “It’s Jimmy.” He connected the call and greeted his brother. After a moment, he held the phone against his chest and whispered to Deb. “He’s trying to decide whether to propose to Mindy. I have to take this. I’ll help when I’m finished.”

            Deb nodded, but the tension built behind her eyes as she surveyed the kitchen. Sam was a good husband and father, but she was worn out. Taking care of four kids and the house was more than a full-time job. She started rinsing the dishes and stacking them in the dishwasher. Another pointless task that would be undone by the end of the day tomorrow. She worked so hard, and did anyone appreciate it? The kids were too young to care, and Sam worked all day long. Laundry, dishes, grocery shopping… all thankless tasks. She pressed her fingers to her temples and sucked in a deep breath.

           After filling the dispenser cup with detergent, she started the dishwasher and headed toward the bathroom. Sam sat in the den with his back towards her, but his voice was clear.

          “Absolutely, Jimmy. I’d marry Deb again in a heartbeat.” Deb froze in her tracks, her husband’s voice touching something deep inside her.

          “She’s amazing. I don’t know how she does it. She’s a fantastic mom to our kids, she takes care of everything around here, and is a wonderful cook. I can’t promise Mindy will be all that, but there’s nothing better than coming home after a hard day’s work to someone you love.”

          A tear rolled down Deb’s cheek as Sam paused in the conversation, listening to something Jimmy said. She was about to sneak away when he continued.

          “There’s so much more to it. Sure, Deb is beautiful on the outside, but that’s not what matters the most. She’s beautiful on the inside, too. Even when she’s gray and wrinkled, she’ll still have a beautiful spirit. I’m a blessed man.”

He paused again, and then “Never. From the day I married her, Deb has been the only woman for me. Sure, in the beginning it’s all about excitement, but now, it’s about the comfort and security in knowing I can be myself and she loves and accepts me for who I am. That’s something special. Anyway, I better go. I promised I’d help clean up the dishes, and I know Deb had a hard day. The kids are sick.” He rose from the sofa, and Deb ducked around the corner, hoping she wouldn’t get caught eavesdropping.

She tiptoed back to the kitchen and studied the sticky counters and the pots and pans piled up on the stove. Somehow the task no longer seemed so daunting. She reached for the dishcloth with a song in her heart.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 

Lord, sometimes knowing we are appreciated makes all the difference in the world. Please help us remember to tell those in our lives we appreciate what they do. Thank you for creating us to be in relationship with others. Please help us never to take those who love us for granted, but always use our words to encourage and to lift others up. In Jesus’ name, Amen.