ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 22, 2023
ON THE PORCH
THE “TURTLE-RESCUE” GENE
**But I have this against you, that you have left your First Love. Revelations 2:4 NASB
Benny and I were speeding down the highway with a destination in mind, and we were running late. While lost in conversation, Benny suddenly slammed on the brakes and pulled the car over. He never said a word, just whipped a U-turn and headed the direction we came from. Now facing the opposite direction of our destination, Benny crept the car forward at a snail’s pace while looking out his window.
I had no clue what was going on. But I was the passenger and just along for the ride. When he spotted what he was looking for, he pulled over, put the car in park, and got out. I still didn’t realize what was going on. He bent down and picked something up. He walked to the side of the road and gently set it down in the grass. When he got back in, he explained it was a defenseless turtle and he had to stop and move it out of harm’s way.
That memory is one of the first times I can remember thinking, “What a kind heart…I have fallen in love with this man.”
I grew up in town and had never experienced a save-the-turtle mission, but it is a generational blessing that runs in Benny’s family. In fact, all our kiddos got the “turtle-rescue” gene. When I sent the kids this picture, Grace and Noah both texted back that they had saved a turtle a few days ago. I remember one time we stopped on the way to Plainview because three were on the road between here and Earth, and Sisi had to stop. No matter where we are going or how late we are running behind, if there is a turtle in danger, we stop and render aid.
At the end of this month, Benny and I will have been married for 28 years and he is still rescuing turtles. This picture was from Sunday on the way home from Circleback. His poor little shell already had been damaged and the pattern on the top was rubbed clean off, so I am glad Benny has an eye that watches for turtles. I never saw him.
As you know, married people have ups and downs. We have always been madly in love, but some days were easier than others. When not feeling as close as I would like to Ben, I recall the reasons I fell in love with him. Most of the time, I realize these are things I get too busy to dwell on, and the stress of life chokes them out. But the fact is, those memories do not change with time. The reasons I fell in love with him are the same reasons I still love him now. But sitting and recalling those memories is an intentional act on my part to think of those actions and times and remind myself of his gentle and kind heart.
After sending this picture to the kids this morning and remembering our first turtle rescue, I was reminded of the Bible talks about leaving our first love… Jesus.
Even though I normally get up while it is still dark, I have been letting the weeds of distraction, busyness, anxiety, and worry choke out the time I spend with Jesus lately. I sit down to see Him, then my mind scatters into a million directions. Jesus sits there and waits patiently for me. I am the one that speeds by saying, “I’ll be back,” ”I don’t have time right now,” or “so much to do, so little time.” Ultimately, I keep getting distracted and don’t return until the next morning. And sadly, sometimes I repeat the same process.
I miss the days I sat at His feet and soaked in His Word. I thought about the scripture I read all day long. I read chapters and didn’t realize it when time got away from me. I didn’t let the worries of the world interfere in our time. I miss the closeness I felt in His presence.
** But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelations 2:4 NASB
This verse says, “You have LEFT your first love.” Jesus hasn’t gone anywhere. He is right where He always is. I am the one that walks away and feels distant at times.
So today, I want to remember the things He did and does for me and be reminded of the million reasons I fell in love with Jesus in the first place.
Here’s a start…
1. Jesus took my shame and sin and forgave me for what I did to Him on the cross.
2. He has read my story and wants to be with me.
3. He always has his hand out, waiting for me to take it.
4. He will never leave me or forsake me.
5. NO MATTER WHAT, HE LOVES ME.
LORD God, this morning I thank You for loving me no matter what. There is nothing I can do to make You love me any more or any less, and that is astonishing because there’s a lot I need to work on a lot I do wrong. Thank You for taking the sin and shame upon Yourself so that I could be with You and feel that love. Help me slow down and continue to return to You as my first love. Thank You for Benny, the other love of my life, and the kind and gentle heart You created within Him. Thank You for the past blessings and the future blessings as we shoot for another 100 years together. Thank You for our kiddos and their tender hearts and loving Spirits, too, LORD. As we journey the days ahead, LORD, walk before us and prepare the way, walk beside us holding our hand, and walk behind us, being our rear-guard. Bring me back to the first love, LORD. In Your precious and holy name, Amen.
GOD LOVES YOU
P.S. I’ve also gotten too busy to write ON THE PORCH devos, and this is how I process. It is for me to work through things in my life. I am still compiling ideas, but I haven’t done anything with them in a while because it takes time to write them out and think them through. So, when God wasn’t letting me off the hook this morning after the pic of Benny, I literally prayed, “Okay, God! Fine. I will sit down and write this, but You know what my day looks like. You will HAVE TO multiply the efforts of my hands and mind to get it all done!”
P.S.S. AND OF COURSE HE DID!!!
ON THE PORCH 