She asked me to lead prayers, but God was already leading our hearts together. Our journey began in 2017, during my senior year of high school, when Lawreta reached out and asked if I could lead a prayer line. At the time, it seemed like a simple request, but looking back now, I can see that God had something much greater in mind. From the beginning, Lawreta had a way of standing out. Her kindness, thoughtfulness, and genuine love for God made it easy for me to become fond of her. We became good friends and would talk often. She was someone I could confide in, someone who always seemed to have the right words at the right time. When I went to college, life placed us in different seasons, and we did not talk as much. During my freshman year, I began to take my relationship with God more seriously. On January 5, 2018, I had a life-changing encounter with Him and entered a season of isolation, growth, and deeper faith. During that time, Lawreta and I did not interact much, but God was still writing our story in the background. That fall, God brought us back together in the sweetest way when Lawreta came to the same college I attended. Our friendship picked back up naturally, almost as if no time had passed. As the semester became challenging, she was always in my corner, encouraging me, supporting me, and reminding me of what I was capable of. She saw greatness in me even when I struggled to see it in myself. For a while, we treasured our friendship so much that neither of us really thought about anything beyond that. But one day, my friends pointed out how special my connection with Lawreta was. Then I heard that other guys were interested in pursuing her, and suddenly, something in me woke up. I realized I did not want to lose the girl who had become such a meaningful part of my life. So, little by little, with prayer, patience, and intention, I began to pursue her. In 2021, we officially started dating, and what started as friendship grew into something even more beautiful. I loved the way she cared for me, challenged me, prayed for me, and pushed me to become better. Through the ups and downs, the growing pains, and the seasons of figuring life out, our love became stronger. We learned each other, grew with each other, and kept faith at the center of it all. As we step into this next chapter, my prayer is that God continues to be the heartbeat of our marriage. I look forward to growing in faith together, walking in purpose together, traveling the world together, and celebrating the beautiful woman Lawreta is. Now when I look back, I see it so clearly: what began as a simple request to lead prayers was really God setting the foundation for a love story only He could write a love birthed out of friendship, faith, and divine timing.