I met her when I was in first grade. She walked into the cafeteria as I was sipping chocolate milk and munching tater tots. I was so compelled by her beauty, I pushed away my tray, stood on my chair, and shouted, “Who isthat pretty girl?!” Although I’m not certain I believe in love at first sight, we’ve been together ever since. I pursued her throughout elementary school and declared my love in sixth grade by stealing a kiss (a romantic peck on the cheek). In junior high, I had not yet hit my growth spurt, so at the homecoming dance I was forced to put my head onher shoulder as we swayed the night away. In high school, we went on our first mission trip together, where we both surrendered to the ministry. As I fell in deeper love with her throughout the ensuing years, I wanted to know every detail I could about her. And the more I learned about her, the more I fell in love with her. Now, twenty years of marriage and five little Dodsons later, I am still tempted to stand up whenever she walks into the room.
I also met Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was in first grade. I stood up from my pew, walked down the aisle and declared my commitment to God. The next Sunday, I made it official by following the Lord in baptism. To congratulate me, the church gave me a black, leather-bound, red-letter edition Bible with my name engraved on the front. The more I grew in my relationship with God, the more I wanted to tuck into that Bible. And the more I read that Bible, the more I grew in my relationship with God. My zeal for the Lord and his Word led me to a Christian liberal arts university where I began my education in biblical studies. Even after a handful of degrees and decades in a classroom, I continue to be amazed at how God constantly opens my eyes to wonderful things in his Word—insights that I have never seen before (Ps 119:18). My love for the Lord has motivat
