One of my daily devotionals about a month or so ago was about a woman talking about her and her ex-husband and one thing that used to drive her nuts when she was with him was the fact that he always left his work shoes laying around everywhere. She, years later, got remarried and her new husband also did the same exact thing. However, becoming more of a Christ-like wife made her soon look at the shoes with appreciation for her hardworking husband who would come home and immediately take off his shoes and begin spending time with their kids. She reflected on her younger ignorance regarding this aspect of her previous husband and how thankful she was that the Lord had changed her heart since then.
Thankfully, as tidy and neat-freak as I am, God has softened my heart with this for many years, but even more so in the past year. Aaron stays completely dedicated to his job and all the aspects that come with it, but when it comes to our kids and myself, work gets dropped wherever and whenever and as often as necessary. There's no down time on the couch for a bit when he gets home. He is ALL IN with our family the second he walks in the door.
So, when I look at the shoes, the hat, the belt, the backpack or the lunchbox laying in an area that it doesn't truly belong, I know its not a sign of his laziness, its a sign of his devotion. A sign of his great, powerful, tremendous love for our family. And that doesn't make my insides boil, it makes my heart swell with tears of joy.
These pictures seem so normal to most, but I see a man who's still in his work clothes completely engaged with his son well into the evening hours. I see a man who stays up late at night to do his overflow work instead of taking time away from his kids while they are still awake. I love you more and more every single day, Aaron Jacob Hein!
