Funny enough our story starts in church in 2017. I was visiting my home church to help out, and as I took the stage to play the keyboard, I expected the usual songs. Instead, I was surprised by a different selection. I looked up and saw Gloria leading the songs. I could tell she wasn’t a “Pente” girl, but that moment sparked an interest, though it wasn’t love at first sight.
Our friendship, full of twists and turns, stabilized in early 2021 through our shared love of music. Gloria joined my band, and we grew closer, talking daily about life, work, and what we valued in a partner. These seemingly mundane conversations deepened our connection, making her someone I could confide in comfortably. As we grew closer, I told her I planned to settle down around age 28, thinking I'd be ready by then. Gloria wasn’t thrilled and tried to change my mind. We debated so much that at one point we doubted we’d ever have a relationship and even considered dating others, nearly ending things before they started. A conversation with a friend changed my perspective. They asked if I liked, loved, and saw a future with Gloria. They urged me to consider if she complemented my goals and if I had prayed about our relationship. That conversation opened my eyes to see Gloria as a fierce, loving, intelligent, and beautiful soul. After a deep conversation, I asked Gloria to be my girlfriend (see me in chambers for more info).
Our relationship wasn’t easy; it was like a rose full of thorns we had to prune with the help of God, mentors, and friends. Without God's guidance, our relationship wouldn’t exist today. As we embark on this new journey, we pray to put God first in every step. We hope our story reflects God’s presence and that our union will always serve Him. By His Spirit, we aim to create a home where we can confidently say, "As for me and my house, we serve the Lord."
I met Kwame in 2017. I was leading worship, and he was playing the keyboard. Funny enough, the choir didn’t know most of the songs I was singing because I didn’t grow up in “Pentecost”, plus I recently joined the church at that time. Kwame didn’t miss a single song, I looked over at him and gave him a thumbs up because he got every song and didn’t leave me hanging. Fun fact: I don’t remember seeing him again for awhile after that.
Fast forward, I later joined Youth Leadership and I had to reach out to the few members we hadn’t seen in a while, Kwame being one of them. Our first conversation really debunked a lot of preconceived ideas I had about him (being a Church Musician). That sparked a genuine friendship between us, however, very inconsistent, and I am primarily to blame for that. Years later, we both attended UMBC around the same time and reconnected over music yet again, leading to spontaneous jam sessions on campus and me later joining his band. In 2021, we got to know each other much better, and Kwame became very present in my life and my family’s, with my siblings seeing him as a big brother.
We were genuinely friends, so once I started having feelings for Kwame, I took it to prayer. God gave me signs, but I initially ignored them. Long story short, one day, I decided to ask God to reveal Kwame’s heart towards me—that would be the deciding factor for me. Just a few days later, he opened up to me, saying things about me he had never shared before and we speak on a daily basis. After hearing what he had to say, that sealed it for me. Kwame then asked me to be his girlfriend, and here we are.
I’d like to say that our story has been a trying one, challenging but transformative. Kwame’s patient, understanding, and loving nature helped me grow. His quiet demeanor can be easily misunderstood, but he’s a man of few words and many actions. Our relationship hasn’t been all peaches and roses; we’ve faced trials that many wouldn’t see through. But God established a bond that has stood against those odds by His grace. I pray that God will sustain our friendship, deepen our bond and deepen our relationship with Him. May God cause us not to live a life that only serves our own needs but serves the purpose He’s called us to, Amen.
