If she didn't complete the tasks, she would be greeted with his explosive anger.
But even if she did complete the list, he was never satisfied; he would always
find inadequacies in her work.
After several years, the husband passed away. Some time later she remarried,
this time to a man who lavished her with tenderness and adoration.
One day, while going through a box of old papers, the wife discovered one of her
first husband's lists. And as she read the sheet, a realization caused a tear of
joy to splash on the paper.
"I'm still doing all these things, and no one has to tell me. I do it because I
love him."
That is the unique characteristic of the new kingdom. Its subjects don't work in
order to go to heaven; they work because they are going to heaven. Arrogance and
fear are replaced with gratitude and joy.
The Applause of Heaven
copyright [Word Publishing, 1996] Max Lucado, p. 159.
Used by permission
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