We all have a story. We all have a journey that brought us to this moment. Most likely, were you to write 27 things that most impacted who you are today, it would be easy to recount major events. Meeting your spouse, losing a loved one, holding your child for the first time, or trouble trying to conceive, we each have something that we can tell.
For me, I would count my salvation and baptism. However, it would be years before I truly fell into the arms of the Jesus I now know. Prior to that glorious fall, I took on my parent’s God. We church hopped. I learned and fell away from dozens of doctrines and teachings.
In comparison, the minute I saw the man that would become my husband, Justin, I was left breathless and thought, “Oh my goodness… I am going to marry him.”
For the first months of our courtship, I was nothing less than infatuated with Justin. I dressed up and we held hands and fell completely in love. ‘
Granted, after 28 years, there have been some less than romantic moments.
But I propose, there is the initial excitement of hearing about Jesus and Salvation, and then we are bombarded with the rules of having Jesus as a companion.
If my story of meeting Justin read like this, “he stepped out on the porch, wearing boots, and jeans, the Texas sun setting behind him. I literally gasped. We sat down and he said, “Wow, you are tall, and tan, and blonde.” He legit said that, like six times. I stared at him, unable to take my eyes off this ruggedly handsome man. Then, he said, “Here is a list of rules and requirements for dating me. Memorize them. You need to get all of this right, every day, or I don’t want to be with you.”
I suspect you would think, that is a terrible story.
I propose many of us miss the actual falling in love with God, who asks us to have no gods before Him. We go from meeting Him to fixing ourselves. The journey from the initial meeting quickly jumps to, “now, get right.”
And I propose, robs us of courtship.
Today, let us focus on the statement, “everything about loving you is fun.” Take every thought captive. At first, I even set an hourly alarm on my phone. When the alarm would sound I would stop and say, “Jesus, everything about loving you is fun.” Or try putting a rock or other small item in your pocket, every time you touch it say, “everything about loving you is fun.”
Being in love is fun, being under the heavy hand of the law is just plain work.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
by Jami Amerine
Jami Amerine is an author, speaker, artist, wife, and mom. She and her husband, Justin live in Houston, Texas and have six children. She holds a Master’s of Education in Counseling and Human Development. Jami and Justin are advocates for foster care and adoption. Jami blogs at sacredgroundstickyfloors.com.
