By Niyi Borire
•
30 Apr, 2009
“Who will you marry?” she asked. I wondered why my mum would ask such a probing question from a young bloke like me. I replied briskly and said: “I don’t know who I will marry BUT I KNOW WHO I WILL NOT MARRY.” I will not marry a woman that does not have a place for God in her heart. A woman that will not love me for who I am. A woman who will neither have real delight nor pleasure in me. A woman that will not believe in the beauty of my dreams, however impossible they may appear. A woman that will not entertain the best opinion of my person and actions. A woman that is too “perfect" to be improved, too “seamless” to be trimmed. A woman who is not sincere enough to tell me the truth when it would hurt. A woman that is not courageous enough to preach my sermons back to me. A woman that will not forgive my faults and understand my infirmities. A woman that will not protect me from shame and abuses. A woman that will not promote my spiritual, physical and secular welfare. A woman that will not show me respect or honour. A woman that will not seek for my contentment and satisfaction. A woman without a voice or a vision. A woman who does not invest, but wants to harvest. A woman who does not originate, she only manipulates. A woman without convictions or standards. A woman who can easily be bought with a prize and swayed with currency. A woman who is ashamed of what is right because it is unpopular. A woman who cannot say an emphatic NO to evil because the whole world says YES! I thought it would be almost impossible to find such a blessed woman, free of these failings. But I was dead wrong. There are so many wonderful women out there waiting to be wanted. It is the glory of God to conceal a “wife”; it is the honour of kings to search it out. Thank God, I found mine – the woman of my dreams! Many years ago, I knew who I would not marry, BUT NOW I KNOW WHO I WILL MARRY! Though imperfect, yet altogether virtuous – what a paradox! Sweetheart, if you ever read this public note, I want you to know that it’s been a great pleasure for me to share in the beauty and splendor of your life. Your investment in my life will surely yield great returns for us, our kids and our generation. My love for you will remain chaste and single, constant and perpetual; so help me God! That’s my creed! Olayemi, you are celebrated!
