I first met my love "O" October 2006 via the internet. Yes, you heard me correctly, via the internet, and our relationship began as just casual chat, getting to know one another. Although when "O" and I first began our chats, he was going through a difficult time in his life due to the death of his mother. I did my best to encourage him during this loss in his life. My sympathy and kindness towards him seemed to strength our relationship immensely, and we soon began talking almost daily.
When I first began chatting with "O" it never crossed my mind to begin a long distance intimate relationship. Besides I was seeing someone locally in Tulsa. But the local relationship soon ended on a bad note due to the individual finding interest elsewhere. Heartbroken, I turned to "O" who seemed to be right there loving and comforting me.
There's something incredibly beautiful about Nigerian men. If you capture their heart, they can make you feel like a true African Queen. I began to realize that my interactions with "O" were beginning to become more than just a friendly chat with a new friend. It wasn't long before he began speaking to me in ways that made me feel cherished, loved, adored and cared about. It didn't take much for me to give "O" my heart.
The next thing I knew, I've got a marriage proposal. Something I've never before been asked in my life. Yeah, I'd been married before but no one had ever asked me to marry them. Besides something about "O" was different. He seemed confident, sure of what he wanted, and he always made it clear, aside from God, that my love and companionship in his life was what he wanted most.
Well I accepted the long-distance marriage proposal, and in July "O" sent me an engagement ring and we both decided that we'd consider ourselves husband and wife until we could be legally married in God's sight. We spent as much time as we could together via webcam, telephone calls, text messages and Yahoo chats. There were days when it took everything either of us had to not cry and complain about loving one another so and not being able to physically touch. But our prayers and love for one another sustained us through some of the worst times.
Now don't get me wrong, long distance relationships have just as many challenges as a physical relationship if not more. "O" and I have had our share of ups and downs, as well as many "breakups" due to frustration and mis-communication. But our breakups where never really long term, more like a temporary cooling off period to sort things out. You see "O" and I both are pretty headstrong and outspoken; so you can image the combustion in this type of relationship.
But you know, if I had to do it all over again, I'd still choose "O" as my husband. Why? Because despite the differences of opinions, challenges and obstacles we have encountered on this journey of love together, we both realize that we truly love one another. We both believe that our union is destiny and that we will have a tremendous testimony to share with others about God's goodness in our lives.
I've never in my lifetime met, interacted or loved a man the way I love "O". I feel that God personally sent him into my life as evidence of the way that He loves me. "O" isn't perfect but he's everything I've wanted in a man. He loves and knows the Lord and has an intimate relationship with God. "O" is kind, thoughtful, loving, sensitive, strong, assertive, independent and a hard worker. The thing I love about him most is the way he takes charge as a man but yet loves and respects me as his Queen.
"O" and I have many dreams we desire to fulfill together and we continue to trust God to give us the desires of our heart. Things are very different in Abeokuta, Nigeria than they are here in Tulsa, Oklahoma and everyday my husband struggles to meet even the basic needs. However, he's a Nigerian man, and Nigerian men are very resourceful, proud and go beyond measure to provide for their loved ones. I'm thankful to have such a husband, who despite his sufferings in such a poverty stricken country, gives his all to me as a loving husband.
It's been 1 year and 5 months now since "O" and I have remained in contact, and 10 months since we both said "I do" virtually. We'll see one another for the first time in July of this year and that anticipation alone keeps the fire of our love burning deeply. Our chats continue pretty much daily, along with visual interaction via web cam. I love this man just as deeply as he loves me, and I continue to thank God for the wonderful gift of my Nigerian King and his awesome love for me. Whenever I reflect on the meaning of the Yoruba name "O" gave me "Oluwakemi--God loves me" my spirit rejoices because I know that God truly does love me.
Oluwakemi
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