White Dresses and My First Love

Wouldn't it be great if all wedding gowns of white contained a pure vessel, ready to receive their true love for the first time - both spiritually and physically? Wouldn't it be great if every bride could honestly say, "Fill me with everything that you are - I purely desire to receive and love you for eternity"? I've always heard that you'll never completely get over your first love. I'm not sure if that's true for everyone, but it has got me thinking lately. Who was my first true love? Was it one of my two big high school crushes - Tony or Tyler? Was it the guy I first kissed? I certainly hope not! Was it my lasting "close" friendship with Brian or ongoing saga with Matt? Nope, none of these actually qualify. My first love actually surfaced years before. In the Spring of 1984, I experienced my first love. He did not admire me from a distance; he admired me up close and personal. Every young girl's dream is for the cute boy in the class to send her a note saying, "Meet me in the tunnel at recess. I want to hang out with YOU!" This guy not only asked me to "hang out", he was bold enough, at my young age of 7, to ask me to fully unite with him. So, I dressed up in my white dress and I sought to be a beautifully pure vessel for him. Mom cried - as moms often do on such occasions. My first love gave himself to me, in a humble, tangible way on that anointed day of my First Holy Communion. After the original reception of my first love, I have to admit that I have often taken his love for granted. I have sought other “loves” in different guys and places. I haven’t always been a pure vessel, seeking to receive him fully. Yet, my first love has continued to give himself to me, no holding back. His love has been true and faithful. And, it is to his love that I continually return. It is his love alone that fulfills me. If God calls me to marriage, to wear a white gown again, I pray that I never will "get over" my first love. My Baptist cousin Jeni and her groom, Dan, were able to choose what they wanted to do in the wedding service after their vows. They wisely chose to pray. As Catholics, how blessed are we that after we exchange vows and rings, we are immediately reminded of our first love!?! We physically receive him, in the Eucharist, even before physically receiving one another. Most Catholic women only wear white gowns twice in life - when they celebrate the most precious, pure and powerful of unions. May the white dresses always signify the occurrence of something new, sacred and eternal! And, in this springtime of many First Holy Communions and marriages, may we never forget the importance of our first love.