Jip, our family dog, escaped today. He sleeps in his house, which is in a small chain-linked fence, but during the day, he runs freely in our fenced-in backyard. He hasn’t always been allowed to run around the yard. But he’s 16 years old, and since we’ve been letting him run around every day, he has a spring in his step reminiscent of his puppy days.

He couldn’t have been gone more than five minutes. I’d just been playing with him. But I turned around, and the wind must have blown the door open just enough for him to sneak through. I quickly grabbed a leash and jumped into the van. I looked in the regular places. No Jip. I listened for dogs barking. Nothing. I asked a couple people who were walking. No sightings. I had a sinking feeling. He’s an old dog. Too old to be on his own for long.

I finally called my husband at work. Not that he could do anything about it, but I wanted to let him know. He asked if I wanted him to come home. Of course not. There was nothing he could do.

My phone rang five minutes later. I glanced at the caller ID and knew Tim was on his way home. He said he only had about an hour but he’d do what he could. I posted something on Facebook in case someone spotted him. I texted our oldest daughter at college. Our youngest daughter would be home from school soon.

Some might think this is a bit dramatic for “just a dog,” but Jip isn’t just a dog. He’s a part of many family memories. I grew up on a farm and watched many dogs come and go. I know it’s part of life. I braced myself to transition into life without Jip.

Five minutes after Tim drove away from the house, I heard the horn and went running. There was Jip in the front seat. He’d only been gone about two hours, but what a sweet reunion! My heart was full…

…not just for Jip but for the man who at that moment stood like a giant next to me as I hugged Jip.

“You’re my hero,” I told Tim.

I didn’t think he needed to come home. I didn’t think there was anything he could do that I couldn’t do. I thought how often I tried to do something on my own when Tim was willing to help. Times I didn’t recognize him for doing something that supported and encouraged me. He so often walks alongside me, unselfishly complementing me in ways that make me shine.

Being a hero isn’t about doing everything right. Being a hero doesn’t take perfection. It doesn’t take unattainable expectations. Being a hero sometimes involves one act or situation, but many times the heroes in our lives are the ones that stick with us through the highs and lows. That often deserves hero status.

I write and speak primarily to women. And to those women, I issue this challenge:

Find a heroic moment or characteristic in a man close to you and let him know what you see in him. If you’re accustomed to finding fault, you might struggle a bit. If you often compliment your man, you might speak without much thought. The challenge is to be sincere. Sincerity builds significance.

Every man needs sincere words of significance from women in his life. Our culture is filled with images of men being ridiculed. You don’t have to let your man be a victim of cultural messages. Help him to see what you see in him. He might be caught by surprise, but it will be a surprise that nourishes the core of his being.

Respect them with a very special love because of the work they do. 1 Thessalonians 5:13