A Calling That Grew With Me

I have been rescuing animals for as long as I can remember. The dream of a sanctuary grew with me, though the path was marked with setbacks and disappointments. By the time my husband entered my life, I already carried a small world of wounded creatures with me. Together, we found land where they could breathe again.

And still, my heart aches for every animal I cannot save. Without his steady presence, I would take on far more than I could bear. He is the calm voice when my bleeding heart roars.

“Even good works can cast long shadows.”

The Weight of Good Intentions

People often assume that kindness and good intentions are the same as selflessness. But caring for animals is relentless — work that continues when we are tired, sick, or hurting — and my husband often shares that weight with me.

I want to help, to heal, to serve, yet sometimes I find that in my desire to do good, I unintentionally take more from him than I give. And if ever there was a man who deserved to be treated selflessly, it is him.

So I ask myself: Lord, how do I learn to be less selfish?

Learning Humility at Home First

I know my past mistakes still ripple through my life. Some days they feel like stones in my pockets. But I don’t want my calling to overshadow my marriage or make my husband feel unseen. In a world that moves quickly and wounds easily, it’s simple to lose sight of what matters. We get swept into the noise and forget to lean on God instead of our own understanding.

Philippians 2:3–4 reminds me that humility is not weakness — it is a posture of love. It is choosing to see the person beside me as a gift, not an afterthought. It is remembering that service begins at home, with the one who has carried my burdens without complaint.

“Service begins at home — with the one who loves us quietly and faithfully.”