We’re Getting Married!

Shekinah I have always had this childhood memory of Marcus’ brother, Makyle, telling me that Marcus liked me when we were kids! Marcus was embarresed and tried to deny it. I remember thinking to myself, “Aww, I’m not going to embarress this kid anymore by telling him I don’t like him back. We’re kids, nothing can come of this anyway....” Marcus Growing up I would see Shekinah around church and school and I actually liked her even in preschool. One of the earliest memories I have of her was at my 5th Birthday party. I remember playing in my basement and as I was heading upstairs Shekinah came running down the stairs. I didn’t know she was coming over so as we both turned the corner I was shocked to see her. We both paused for a second, said hi and I think I went and asked my mom how she got to our house. This memory stuck with me even when we hadn’t seen each other for years.

Shekinah During grade school Marcus and I were not in each other’s lives anymore. My family moved to Kansas City at the end of 5th grade. In 8th grade, Marcus followed me on instagram! I thought to myself, “Oh, isn’t he the guy who used to like me in preschool? That’s random!” And I didn’t think much of it after that! Marcus I remember in middle school, I was looking for a date to a dance. My mom had a list of girls who she thought might have liked me as a kid but never would tell me any names. I didn’t really want to go with anyone from my homeschool group so I asked my mom about that list. The only names she revealed were people who were no longer in Ohio, and Shekinah’s name was one of them. At this time I had no idea where the Mathis family lived but that memory of the cute girl I had a crush on at my birthday party spoke loudly to me. I went to the dance alone but I also prayed for Shekinah and her family. I asked God that if she was my wife, he would protect and preserve her for me(and me for her) and that he would bless her family and keep them safe. I also asked that if she wasn’t my wife, that He would still keep her for her husband. A few years later, I started randomly seeing Shekinah and her family at church, in passing. I remembered that prayer but still just waved from afar. The closest we had come to contacting each other was Instagram.

Shekinah Fast forward to high school, senior year! My dad comes home from a church bowling night beaming from ear to ear! “Marcus Goins asked you to prom. I gave him your number!” I was shocked! I hadn’t heard of or from Marcus in over 10 years! I was confused and appalled, but I thought to myself, “God, what if you’re in this somehow?” Marcus Senior year of High school, prom season rolls around and I’m, once again, looking for a date. I had been indecisive about who I would ask for a while and was contemplating asking someone from school while at a church bowling outing. While sitting there, not taking action I noticed that Mr. Mathis was also there and my mom mentioned maybe asking him if I could take Shekinah to prom. I sat there thinking for awhile and when I finally stood up to go ask, I turned around and my mom and Mr. Mathis were both walking toward me with beaming smiles. He shook my hand and before I could say anything he exclaimed “Yes, you may ask Shekinah to prom”. I stood there in shock at what had just happened but it quickly turned into nervous excitement as he gave me her number. Shekinah Marcus reached out to me and we arranged to meet each other with our families at a bowling alley (oddly enough, on Valentine’s Day!) He was quiet and shy, but sweet, so I decided to accept his invitation!

Marcus We ended up going to both my prom and her prom and over that last summer before college we became good friends. With God’s help and much persistence that friendship turned into a deeper relationship and now I’m so glad God kept us both for each other. I can’t wait to marry my best friend❤️