By VRena

21. That’s how young I was when I met him…actually, it was ON my 21st birthday! Thinking about it now…hmmm…what a gift!!! Little did I know that the chance meeting in White Castle (go figure) would result in a family of five!!!

During summer break from Spelman, and after job interviews with Prudential, a friend and I stopped in White Castle for those “murder burgers” that we didn’t have access to in Atlanta! She noticed that the math book he had was the same one she used for her class. Introductions and a conversation ensued…and six years later, he and I were married!

So I am and had always been a woman of size, cherished by myself, but often feeling like a consolation prize for most men. Don’t get me wrong…I never had any self-esteem issues…not by a long shot!!! But I had reality. When I met him…or should I say when my friend and I met him, I was VERY interested in learning more about him. (Even though he had on combat boots in 90-degree weather, I was interested.) We exchanged numbers…all of us, and I never thought in a million years that he would call ME. But he did, and he asked me out…”Yes”…accompanied by an ear-to-ear grin!!!

Over that summer we enjoyed each other’s company and spent an eternity talking about everything under the sun! He was a gentleman in every aspect of the word…opening doors, listening…really listening to what I had to say, paying for meals, even writing me poetry. I had a difficult time trusting that he was really into me…mainly because he was such a good looking guy…and you know…like I said, I was (and still am) a woman of size. But day after day, he showed me that he was genuine…and I began to realize that I was (and still am) worthy of love…even from a good looking guy! I stopped questioning my relationship and got comfortable in the arms of this man. I began to believe that he was the man God sent for ME!!! I was in love, and loving it and him!!!

Fast forward…September 4, 2013 will mark 20 years of marriage to that guy I met at White Castle on May 12, 1987!!! Together we have three daughters and one granddaughter…and I am still in love with him- and he’s still good-looking!!! And he’ll gladly and freely tell anyone of his love for me!! I’m blessed because I could have become a victim of my limiting thoughts about my size which would have left me relation-less! But I’m here to tell you my sisters, to shake off your ill-conceived self-limits…because God has no limits for us!!! Not in relationships or anything else! We are so worthy of good everything…relationships, jobs, food, jewelry, etc.!!! We must simply believe and KNOW that we are worthy…despite our size, our complexion, our flat rear, our big belly, our unfinished degree, our stretch marks, our out-of-wedlock child, our unemployment or even our 5-yr long bad relationship!!! We must shed all that baggage so that we are in position to receive the positives, the bonuses and the additions that God has for us!!! God placed me…Me…in a position to receive a lifelong love…and I assure you he will do the same for you! Lose the self-imposed limits, my sisters!!! Receive, receive, receive!!!!