Our love story is the one you never see coming — the kind that shows up when life is lifing, when the timing is all wrong, and when you’re busy minding your business (literally). We weren’t looking for love. Love was the last thing either of us had on our minds.

At the time, I was thriving. My educational digital learning program was already successful, and real estate had become my second entrepreneurial goal — a way to expand my vision and keep chasing everything I knew I was capable of. I was a successful first-year agent, gaining momentum and recognition in the office.

Life was full, my purpose was clear, and love was the last thing on my agenda.

Derwin came into my world through the business circle, showing up at the Sandy Springs office to support a real estate agent he was connected with. He wasn’t looking for anything either — just doing what he does best: showing up with passion, charisma, and genuine support.

That day, I wore a yellow dress, thinking I was stepping into another opportunity to build and grow.

As the weeks went on, somewhere between small talk and business conversations, a little moment happened that changed everything: I moved his laptop.

Without hesitation, I slid his laptop from in front of him and pulled it in front of me — bold, confident, and completely myself. Derwin says that was the exact moment he knew he wanted to figure out who I really was. Because who does that? (Apparently, I do.)

From business lunches to deep conversations about our hopes and dreams, it became clear that this wasn’t just business. It was something greater. Something divine.

Of course, life still had its lessons. We walked through challenges, gained wisdom, and leaned into the counsel of those who love us. Every step grew us and made it even clearer: we were meant for this.

And now, here we are — two dreamers, two builders, ready to build the biggest chapter of our lives yet. We are honored and excited to share this sacred moment with all of you.

Eager at the beginning of a new career and new life, I found myself in what I now recognize as a cocoon of destiny. I walked into a meeting knowing I would walk out with a new business partner. Within the first two minutes of sitting, I identify a lady in a yellow dress to whom I will introduce myself. After networking with multiple people hours later, the Lady in the yellow dress walks by as she exits the room, and I introduce myself. Business cards are exchanged, and a lunch and learn is scheduled for the upcoming week.

Later, at the “lunch and learn,” as I am doing my presentation, this young Lady turns my laptop to face herself as I present my PowerPoint slides. I was new in my career but polished as a public speaker. I flowed through my slides mentally until I got to a product I didn’t remember.

I reach to turn my laptop back to me to refresh my points, and this Lady’s eyes lift, and she shares ‘Don’t ever give me something and take it away from me…” in a soft but serious manner.

The diverse and intensified thoughts from the chapters and verses from the book “Who the hell are you, and who do you think you are talking to…” cascaded through my mind the remainder of the lunch like a kayak on a river in the north Georgia mountains. This challenge, her audacity, my tenacity, sparked the flicker of curiosity that now burns the flames of destiny.

Being a man of diverse gifts and talents, living, working, and serving in different worlds… I was used to entering and exiting those diverse worlds in manners on my terms and at my choosing alone. I discovered that this Lady was in a different world, where strengths and weaknesses are exposed. A world where the polarities of the powerful must be grounded well, or the negligence thereof runs the risk of negatively shocking the world. A world where the “imago” and all parts of oneself must be acknowledged to be whole and thy authentic self.

Our world is a world where some may see it as “Pastor & First Lady,” others “The Lady, Her Lover, Her Lord…” others “The Power Couple” others “The Homey Lover Friend.” However, the lovely thing about our world is not allowing the worlds we live and serve to define us but allowing God, the author and finisher of our faith, to write our narrative “and they two shall be one flesh.” Ephesians 5:31.

The journey of becoming one with Sharifa is one of the most rewarding experiences of overcoming by becoming. I am excited to see what will become as we walk through the destiny of 1!

P.S. “She gives me butterflies…”