Written by Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), a Danish philosopher and theologian.
You have loved us first, O God, alas!
We speak of it in terms of history
as if You loved us first but a single time,
rather than that without ceasing.
You have loved us first many times
and everyday and our whole life through.
When we wake up in the morning
and turn our soul toward You –
You were there first – You have loved us first;
if I rise at dawn and at that same second
turn my soul toward You in prayer,
You are there ahead of me, You have loved me first.
When I withdraw from the distractions
of the day and turn my soul toward You,
You are there first and thus forever.
And we speak ungratefully as if
You have loved us first only once.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins … We love because he first loved us. [1 John 4:10, 19]
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