Meeting my husband

Coming from a family who felt marriage was something that needs to happen as soon as you finish your schooling so you can start a family whilst still young, I was beginning to feel pressured by them that at 24 (imagine!). I was still single with no love interest at all (not even close!). It didn’t help that I was going to friends' weddings around this time as my family kept turning to me asking “when will we celebrate your own???”. It came from a place of love I know, BUT it was starting to become unbearable and surely enough became a prayer point. However, for some reason, in January 2013, I had this feeling, this confidence that this would be my year, my time to meet someone. I’m not sure why as nothing special was happening around me but for some reason I had a peace about my relationship status that I’ve never had before...a peace and confidence that I could not explain.

Fast forward to June 2013, I came back from holiday and on the journey back I had a random thought about trying online dating. Now for anyone who knows me, they know I’m the overly cautious mother of the group who would absolutely frown at this kind of thing and class it as unsafe! But yet here I was unable to shake the feeling that this was my next step. I was busy working in the City of London and had no time to meet with anyone outside of the office, let alone to be seen by anyone who may have been interested! Online dating seemed like a logical step. I can continue my late nights at work but also check my profile. Win win. So end of June 2013 I did. I created about 3 or 4 free accounts but didn’t want to get bogged down with creating profile that had all my info and requests on it. So I kept it simple. My name, vaguely my location, my age and the one thing I was looking for “the one God has set aside for me". I had one picture up and that was my profile.

It was not all plain sailing and by the beginning of July I was done and did not want to be online anymore. I went to close one particular account but found a message that was different from the rest (wish I could remember exactly what he said) but what I remember is that it was different. It was simple, polite and something made me believe it was genuine.

We started to talk. We exchanged numbers and we couldn’t stop talking! It was the summer holidays and he was leaving the country in a few days so we agreed to meet before he left in a very public place (safety first, right?). He came with his nieces who he was baby sitting that day (for added protection lol). Again for anyone who knows me this is just a big no no, but I felt I was being guided by something beyond me. I was still praying, I was still waiting and I was asking for the spirit of discernment to know whether this was in God's plan.

Long story short, our trip to the park with his nieces became the first of many dates and the beginning of an unexpected but clearly planned-by-God relationship. Our families originate from the same country (which is awesome and strange as there are not that many of us in England lol), but what was even more “strange" is that whilst I grew up in London, he was raised in another EU country and had only moved to London a year earlier! Of all the countries and all the cities in the world, eh? The guy had no idea why God moved him (he still jokes it was just for more opportunities in London – opportunities indeed lol!). We also have similar view points and likes and dislikes. He is actually my better half, pushes me beyond what I think I can do, sees the best (and worst) in me and helps me to grow in all areas.

In June we’ll be celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary by God’s grace! This journey was not easy. There have been obstacles along the way and huge pressure from family, especially from the journey of being single to a married woman. God told me to hold on and turn my focus away from the pressures and to Him. My theme tune during this time was “Wait" by William McDowell. Simple but powerful. What more needs to be said in that situation? When He moved I had no idea it was coming, but I followed and I haven’t regretted it. Had I acted of my own accord a year or 2 earlier, I wouldn’t have found him as he was not even in the country!

Sometimes in all the madness, pressures and noise from other people you need to sit still in the silence and simply just wait. Celebrate with others because you need to believe that in due course, they will be celebrating with you too. It’s hard, I admit, when you want it so bad for yourself, or when you feel like the clock is ticking but sometimes we need to check ourselves and wonder if we want it for ourselves or to calm all the noise. God knows when it’s the right time for you. Marriage is too much of a big step to rush in to. Keep praying, keep waiting, keep hoping and definitely keep celebrating with others. It will come!