Shortly after my late-husband and I bought our first home, we discovered we needed a new hot water tank. I chafed at the expense, which I later learned was minimal compared to the many other things our new-to-us home would require over the next several years.

I remember ruefully saying to my husband, “If we’re going to have to spend $xyz dollars on something for the house, I sure wish it could have been something more visible and pretty, like paint for the living room and dining room.”

You see, after living in bland military housing and rental properties the first decade or so of our marriage, I was ready to decorate!!

All too often, that’s how I’ve approached my life in general. I’ve wanted a “cute” car, nice clothes, and other things that bring me pleasure aesthetically. But today’s devotion (Catching Whimsy, Jan 8) reminds me to focus my attention and resources on what really counts: building and maintaining a firm foundation.

How do we do that?

By first loving and enthusiastically serving God . . . and then loving and eagerly serving others.

What about you? What is the foundation of your life? How sturdy is it?