I am not sure anyone thought we would last this long
Maybe Not even me
We’ve had our ups and downs but what has sustained us is our mission to eradicate the factors that perpetuate the demise of the Black family
We came to each other pretty damaged
We were told to take it slow
But, despite this advice,
I accepted your invitation to journey home and create a union
It was our commonalities that solidified our decision to manifest our vision of a ceremony
in The Gambia
A two day celebration with friends
but no blood family
was the beginning of our commitment to something bigger than us
Something that requires lots of trust
and collaboration
and dedication
and
Compromise
Not to mention, no lies
We were told our marriage could survive as long as we seasoned it
like a cast iron skillet
Was it that easy?
I was a lioness wild, untamed
hurt and whose heart had gone astray
You were seeking spiritual freedom
Dealing with the upheaval left from year of restrictions, limitations and impediments
We both had been broken and there was no token of love that could put our pieces back together
Immediately
Only years of love, patience and prayer
you seeing me and me seeing you
and us working on ourselves
to personally undo
years of psychological trauma
A road of searching
years of searching for a God, the right God, I have served many Gods
before I could come to the conclusion
that the allusion of my being able to make it in this life without submission to the one was
not the life Allah wanted for me
You always wanted me to submit to his will
But you patiently
Waited for me
nurtured me, watered me, fed me, loved me and led me
So gently, but powerfully
Reflecting the light of the sun
While all along I
unknowingly
became
and
Am able to Shine like the moon in the night
And reflect your light