Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
— Psalm 136:1

In a few months, Vicki and I will have been married for 50 years. Just typing that makes me smile. It also makes me thankful.

If you were to ask me what I most appreciated about Vicki, a number of things would flash through my mind initially. I could easily make a long list. That is good. After 50 years, you better be able to write down more than a few! But what I would write down first is easy. It might seem overly simple at first glance, but it is really everything.

Vicki loves me. That is it. That is the big number one. I have been confident in that for the last 50 years. Her love is a lasting one. It is permanent. How does that impact me and our family? It has made me a much more confident person over the years. There are some things that come up from time to time that cause me some concern, but one thing I have never worried about is whether or not Vicki loves me. That has made our family much more secure. It is a great blessing. I am glad Vicki has that same confidence in my love for her.

Just as that type of lasting love is important to our earthly homes, a knowledge and understanding of our God’s eternal love for us should give us confidence in our eternal home. God’s love for us does not rise and fall due to our efforts or performance. His love for us is constant. He sees us as perfect in the shadow of the cross.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ – it is by grace you have been saved.
— Ephesians 2: 4–5

With that great truth in our hearts, let us go forward and live as children of the King, saved by his great love and grace and live confidently as his people.

If someone asked us to make a list of great things about our God, many things should come to our mind. But number one should come quickly to us: He loves us.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
— Psalm 136:1