On Tuesday, Tom and I will be married 36 years.  We’ve had our ups and downs, but we stuck with each other through them.  I am thankful and blessed (and sometimes vexed) to be married to this wonderful man.

But Tom is not my first love.  I was reminded of this at church this morning.  I fell in love with Jesus long before I met Tom.

I grew up in the church, so I always loved Jesus, but when I was a teenager I fell in love with him.  His sacrifice inspired me.  I knew what he did was for me.  I knew he had a purpose and plan for me.  I got up each morning eager to spend another day with Jesus.

Jesus called me into ministry again and again.  Different ministries expressed in different ways over the years.  I love him more and more with each day that goes by.  I understand what a difference he made and makes in my life.  Jesus said, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” I know this to be true.

Love deepens over the years, but it also changes in other ways.  Sometimes, no matter how deeply we love, we can take the other person for granted.  The blush – the eagerness – fades.  We can forget what that first love felt like.

This morning at church, Jesus reminded me.  We were singing (these reminders often come through songs) “Glorify Thy Name” and it reminded me of all the times I sang this song when I was a teenager.  Of how I felt when I thought I could “glorify thy name” in every action, every thought, every minute of my life.  When Jesus was my first love and that love was fresh and new.

I still love Jesus with my whole heart.  I still want to serve him and live to glorify his name.  He will always be my first love because he loves me with an everlasting love.

Thank you, Jesus, for the reminder that you are my first love.  Thank you for filling my heart with hope and joy when I am tired or worn out from the years.  Rekindle the fire and renew my spirit so I may continue to serve you with a whole heart.