My Dedicated Man

(Lauren and grandson Eli)

My dear husband Lauren has had a very big anniversary this year - he has worked at the same place for 30 years! He has a degree in social work, and he has worked for a treatment program for youth all of these years, quite a feat considering that burn out is quite high in this field. He works with families that need help with their children, and he really enjoys what he does. His job has changed over the years with more paperwork to do and long hours, but he gets satisfaction from serving God in this way. He is a patient, steadfast and loyal man, not only at work but in his relationships with his family and friends. I am so blessed to have been married to him for 34 years, and he is my best friend.

His coworkers surprised him last week with a gift to honor his years of service...


...a little cabin they made to represent the gift of staying at a cabin for a couple of nights, a kind of retreat to relax and spend time with family away from the busyness of everyday life. What a blessing this gift was, not only for the actual gift of staying at the cabin, but also the gift of kind words they showered him with, acknowledging his dedication to his work and his friendships with those he works with each day. All too often we forget to say words of confirmation for a job well done, but I think these words to him meant more than anything else that was given to him for his 30 years of work.

For many years. I have prayed for my husband these verses from Colossians:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:9-12