Here’s a beautiful Love story on Raquel and Seun Daniel’s marital journey. This is not your usual love story, it is uniquely different..
Their story proves that it is not always how long, sometimes it is how well!
On the the 9th of May 2016, they were complete strangers, fast forward to the 15th of May, 2016, they got engaged and on the 9th of September, 2017, they got married.
Read the full story below as narrated by the bride:
“Yes, I recently married my Best friend. But much more than excitement, what I’ve been taught during this (what felt like an eternity of single) season is that God is INTENTIONAL about every single detail in our lives. If we’re connected and in alignment with what HE is doing, we won’t miss His voice when He speaks.
God brought this amazing human into my life when I wasn’t even ready. I could have missed it, I almost didn’t see it. It was too fast and he was too real to be true. Thankfully, when I met him, I recognised him-Spirit to Spirit.
It only took me a few hours from the airport departure lounge to the plane to decide I wanted us to be friends. In three days I knew deep in my heart, you’re here to stay. After five days you decided you wanted more than friendship. Was I scared? Absolutely!
You don’t meet some stranger and in five days agree to marry them but you were sure it was me you’ve been actively searching for. Beyond possessing every single thing on my list for a choice of a spouse, you came with extras I knew ONLY my Father could give me.
I said “if we’re doing this, know that we’re going to have to wait until marriage” you said “lets raise the bar, we’re not going to kiss before marriage”. Your response that day in Kigali was a confirmation that you just had to be him.
I’m grateful for a man like you, Seun You’re truly the Father’s Son. Your love for God is so evident in ALL you do. You challenged me to see the world in the way that I never did; you make me laugh and love with abandon and remind me every single day to dream bigger, to work harder, to open my heart to the possibilities of this beautiful life. I never realized that I could love anyone as much as I love you”
The Groom has this to say:
When I met you, I thought to myself “what an amazing woman”. It didn’t take me long to know I wanted you. But it was too soon, too fast and even though I’m normally reserved, I couldn’t resist your depth and great smile. Your love for God was so evident even a blind person could feel it. I saw in you after a few days EVERYTHING I prayed for (and more).
Beyond being able to talk to you for hours and not get tired, you speak with so much wisdom. I’m glad I made the decision to pursue you immediately because when you find the right person, making a decision is never difficult. You’re beautiful, selfless and your heart is so so kind. The definition of a Proverbs 31 Woman.
The Father’s Daughter. I’m grateful to God for giving you to me as a wife and I’m blessed to be called your husband. I know this for sure, when God made you, He was definitely thinking about me. ….My Queen, My Light, My Woman.
I was looking for a wife. Not a fling, not a situationship, not a friend with benefit- a wife. I wasn’t just looking for a beautiful face, a nice body or to be sexually enticed. The Word of God is clear ” He who finds a wife, finds a good thing” I’ve found my own “good thing” and obtained favour from the Lord.
You, baby, didn’t have to rub me on the shoulder to get my attention. I acknowledged you’re a treasure, the wife I was searching for immediately I set eyes on you. I’m blessed to call you my wife.
Nothing can be greater than being given a daughter of the King.
And the bride has this DEEP message for single ladies
Dear single Christian woman, this is from my heart to yours.
“WAIT FOR GOD’S BEST FOR YOU.” Get a piece of paper and search through the Bible and list qualities of a godly man. Watch and listen to sermons about Biblical manhood and what it looks like then list those out too. Look into your own life & heart.
See your shortcomings list them out and pray for a man who is strong in those areas. Think on your passions, purpose and desires for future, list and pray for a man who wants to live that type of life with you. Decide, then list your VALUES and convictions.
Pray for someone who has similar ones. Values matter! Ask God to show you what standards to set. Ask Him to give you the patience to WAIT. Ask Him to make you the woman that your future husband is also praying for.
Ask Him to prepare your husband and help him wait as well. Ask Him to teach you grace and patience for the areas that he will fail because trust me, he will. Ask Him to mold you into the woman your husband needs for his own plans and future ambitions. Ask Him to bring His perfect gift in His perfect timing… No matter how many men flood you weekly.
Keep your eyes and heart on the Lord. He will be worth the wait (as cliche as that sounds). If you’re thinking, “I’ve gone too far to even start this.” Listen up!
There’s GRACE. Ask God for help. He’s faithful and just to forgive us from ALL our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If you’re losing hope, remember this scripture “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” – Psalm 27:14
You don’t have to dress up scantily, be loud so you can be heard to be seen or rub him on his shoulder to get his attention. A true gem will shine, even in darkness. A man close to God, will know when he sees you, that you’re his wife. And trust me, you don’t have to try to be seen, for him to see you.
And adds thus:
In today’s sex-crazed and “purity is lame” culture, we’re quick to celebrate the men who only take their women to exotic restaurants, buy them fancy cars, take them on expensive vacations, put it up on social media but not honour them by protecting their purity. We’re quick to “hail” and repost them with hashtags like #Husbandgoals #RelationshipGoals.
As Christains, we are called to be people of purity, to honour God in the use of our bodies. However, pursuing purity is one of the hardest things Christians face in dating relationship or courtship and men who honour their women are hardly celebrated.
We all agree, it is really hard for two young, hormone-filled people who are intensely attracted to each other to keep their hands off each other. That is why celebrating men who honour their women and their God is very important.
I said all that to say this; celebrate the men who whether it makes sense to our culture or to their bodies to reserve sex for marriage or not, still honour their God and their women to wait until marriage.
Celebrate the single men who lead their women closer to God rather than their bedrooms. Celebrate the single men who are not sitting on the fence, arguing if kissing before marriage is right or wrong and looking for scriptures to justify it but simply focused on serving their God and loving their women in the way of the Lord.
If you’re reading and wondering, “it’s difficult, I can’t do this” remember this scripture: ” But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for MY strength is made perfect in weakness.’ (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV)
Be encouraged because it is possible and you can do it!
I celebrate you Seun. You’re a testimony that extraordinary men do exist.
