Our Romance Story – By Lanre and Olusola Ogundare

“Welcome to Our Romance Story”

FFA: Please introduce yourselves.

My name is Lanre Ogundare and my wife is Olusola Ogundare. We are both from the South Western Part of Nigeria.

Lanre: I am a Business Administration graduate with interest in Operational Management and Efficiency. I currently head the Digital Banking Services of a Commercial bank in Lagos,Nigeria.

Olusola: I hold a Masters Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry;I am a Personal Makeup Educator and Entrepreneur. I founded a company (FOODRUNS Concept) that facilitates sourcing of quality food material and distribute through major online retailers in Nigeria. A mother of two Great ‘Men in the Making’. I have devoted more of my time holding forth the home front over the years with strong conviction that nothing is compared to the formative age in the lifetime of a Child.

FFA: What a mum! Yours is a driven and balanced family, keep up the great work! How long have you been married?

We have been married for 8 years (Just like yesterday), but we have been friends for over 14 years.

FFA: Wow! 14 solid years of friendship. How did you meet her?

Lanre: We met at a very young age after a mid-week service in our local church, where I served in the leadership structure of the Youth department. I was chatting with some youth members when she walked pass and in a very simple instruction, the Holy Spirit requested that I follow her immediately and give her every detail about myself (quite funny).

FFA: Very funny indeed!😀

It was an uncommon one, but I was very eager to see her face as I doubled up to get her attention and I can testify she was very heavenly to say the least.

FFA: Hmmm😀

We exchanged numbers and kept the connection from that day and our bond has only gotten stronger till date.

FFA: Would you like to add to that please?

Sola: Like my husband said, we met in our local church. He was always everywhere in the church, talking to the youths, leading Bible studies, leading praises, finance department and all…… I concluded, initially, that I did not want someone who would intrude into my then purely ‘introverted’ life, but somehow we got talking. They say “opposites attract”, right? Ours was not an exception….very funny.

FFA: Sounds like you talked more than you would normally do, he got you! At what point did you decide to get married to her?

Lanre: From the day I did as instructed by the Lord, it clicked, I knew I had found my ‘Mine’ and that name stuck with us till date. We call each other by that pet name, ‘Mine’.

FFA: WOW! That’s some connection there!

We were very young, so I had to wait until it was psychologically okay for us to discuss marital issue; after my University days.

FFA: What was the attraction then?

I got attracted to her right from the first point of contact because her spirit is as beautiful as she looks. As we get to know each other better, it becomes more evident because her personality remains thrilling to me till date.

I can tell you that discovering her at every step/stage of our lives together has been amazing because we keep evolving each day.

FFA: How sweet! Truly, her lovely personality shines through. What attracted him to you, awesome woman?

Well, the first time I saw him, I knew he was my husband. I struggled with this in my mind because I thought he was too free-spirited, but when we got talking, the story changed ……we became very close friends and I could no longer let go.

FFA: You got hooked! He is suave😉. How did you propose Sir?

To be honest, I can tell you that I was not that romantic at the point of proposal (really less drama). It all happened after a church vigil, she simply smiled and went home when I informed her of my intentions to have her as my life partner. It took few days before she informed me of her consent and I was really on top of the world singing all the way home – just like Eddie Murphy did in the classic movie, ‘Coming to America’. It was really the best news EVER with the ecstasy of it overflowing in Tongues and thanksgiving.

FFA: You knew it was coming, but you just had to hear her say YES! Keep tonguing, lol!
How do you fill your romance-tank; improve intimacy; take romance to the next level?

Understanding our love languages has helped us in this area. We never shy away from reminding each other of the ‘magic’. While one appreciates quality time, act of kindness and words of encouragement, the other appreciates being supported and being served in areas of interest.

FFA: Great practice! Identifying the love language of your loved one is so crucial to blissful romance and intimacy!

To take romance to the next level, we ensure that every wall of resentment is never allowed around our relationship. We joke with each other a lot and that reduces over-seriousness that kills the joy of many relationships. This is why it is very important to marry a friend and do everything to reaffirm your love and ensure that nothing signals that your spouse has only a part of you, ‘no holding back’. Just like Adam and Eve were naked and they were not ashamed around each other (Gen 2:25).

FFA: “…we ensure that every wall of resentment is never allowed around our relationship. We joke with each other a lot”. This is powerful and deep!!!
Do you have family rituals/routines that bind you together?

Taking a drive with our boys has become a routine that binds us together as a family because it gives the needed time to answer all questions and create the necessary bond in a busy city of Lagos. It is done deliberately many times to make it fun.
Also, we pray together daily.

FFA: Nice one, “Children often spell LOVE as TIME” – Dr. Mike Murdock.
How have you been able to navigate through the challenges of each phase of your marriage?

Every marriage has its own challenges. One of the things that has worked for us is that we do not carry a grudge or argument over to the next day, we settle before sleeping. Sometimes, it starts with chatting on the phone before we finally settle verbally and then sleep sometimes at 2am, but we settle before sleeping and wake up to a fresh start. It has helped.

FFA: Hmm, this is practical commitment!
What advice do you have for singles/the engaged?

To the Singles, find and stay in your purpose because in it,everything required to have it fulfilled (including marital destiny) will find expression. Don’t be a photocopy of anyone or else you will only struggle to become the original.

Getting engaged and eventually marrying your friend is the sweetest thing ever, because it has the capacity to reduce struggles in every relationship. Marriage requires deliberate action and it is work with clear guidelines per time.

With every passing day of a relationship comes familiarity which can lead to taking each other for granted. Never take your Spouse-to-be for granted for anything and this must be taken into consideration deliberately.

For the guys, avoid lording your authority over your wife or you breed an obedient servant-wife instead of a submitted wife. Having respect is largely a product of excellence in your area of strength which appeals to your woman at the early stage of knowing each other. While physical attraction remains the starting point of 99% of relationship (for guys), most ladies consider security as the top item of their list. Such security can be found in areas of strength (Spirituality, Talents, Physical look, Show of Care, Strong personality, etc.).

FFA: Hmm, so true, some couples allow familiarity to breed contempt, rather than better romance. The more you get to know each other, the more you should know and do what makes the other happy!
Any encouraging words for couples going through a challenging time?

Marriage is ordained by God and whatever brings anxiety/restiveness in the relationship needs to be silenced in prayers. I remember telling my wife while we were courting that anything that challenges her peace contends with us together and because two are better than one, we are for victory.

It has be a settled matter to forgive your spouse ahead. That is, Advance Forgiveness. It has to be a deliberate action with a commitment that nothing can be too much to forgive.

Don’t ever leave your partner is a rule that must be guided jealously or else vulnerability is inevitable. Do everything to stay compact and never stop communicating at all levels of your relationship including romance.

Above all, be your Spouse’s NUMBER 1 Fan.

FFA: “Anything that challenges her peace contends with us together”, awesome perspective and deep truth. God sees a married couple as one, not two!

Wow! You guys are a huge inspiration! Thank you for sharing your Romance Story.

You can follow them on:

Instagram: lanrebestogd
Twitter : @modupelanre, @solaogd

 

 

Please click on these links to read other Romance Stories:

Segun and Halima Akinkugbe – http://foundationforfamilyaffairs.org/our-romance-story-featuring-segun-and-halima-akinkugbe/

Oluwafemi and Olubusola Adun – http://foundationforfamilyaffairs.org/our-romance-story-featuring-oluwafemi-and-olubusola-adun/

Kelechi and Uloma Anyalechi – http://foundationforfamilyaffairs.org/romance-story-kelechi-uloma-anyalechi/

Debola and Angela Tella – http://foundationforfamilyaffairs.org/our-romance-story-by-debola-and-angela-tella/

Feb and Laurie Idahosa – http://foundationforfamilyaffairs.org/our-romance-story-by-feb-and-laurie-idahosa/

Gbolahan and Afolashade – http://foundationforfamilyaffairs.org/our-romance-story-by-pastor-gbolahan-and-cllr-afolashade-bright/

Foundation For Family Affairs