My First Love

Long before I heard the First Love song by Petra, long before I knew and understood the concept of making God my first love, I heard the talks of one man - my Dad - encouraging young people to be fully committed to the Lord. There was also plenty of advice and talks on how to deal with feelings towards the opposite sex - growing up in the 90s in South India meant boys just don't talk to girls. I've been ridiculed by my male classmates for talking to girls (when I was in 8th - about 12-13 years old) and school and college staff have tried to curb us kids from mingling too much with the opposite sex. Amidst all this, my Dad has always maintained that "If you're not attracted to the opposite sex, then there's something wrong with you. Attraction is normal. Being infatuated and having crushes on the opposite sex is a part and parcel of life." Wow. I could wipe my brow. No need to feel guilty. And all cultural nonsense could go hang itself. These two pointers from my preaching/ministering dad were ultimately crucial in developing my foundation and basic beliefs - so my first love became (and still is!) Jesus Christ, and I've given nary a second thought to women I have been attracted to. Until of course, I found my lovely and awesome wife - Smitha, in 2006. But that's another story entirely - for these two solid pointers being repeated again and again to us, thanks Dad.