Love and Marriage Mini Series- The Duprees

Meet Jermaine and Tyhisha Dupree

Tell us your love story! (Include a picture of you two THEN and NOW)

1997 (left); 2014 (right)

Jermaine and I met in 1997 at Foot Action in the Montgomery Mall, Montgomery AL. I was active duty Air Force and working a part-time job (trying to meet people). At first we didn’t hit it off, honestly I didn’t even like him, I thought he was arrogant and cocky and really didn’t like working with him. After some time we began to hang out and a friendship quickly developed into a serious relationship, what I called arrogance was actually confidence and it’s one of the many traits about him that I love. We dated for about three years, but our immaturity, lack of focus and lack of respect for each other’s feelings tore us apart. We had a five year break, but after we healed emotionally God allowed us to develop an awesome friendship. We truly have a bond now that cannot be broken. In 2005 after we both had developed a deeper relationship with God, we reconnected. It was like there had been no time lapse between us and within 2 years we were engaged and then married in 2008. Our love story is a testament to God having the final say. God literally took the deepest hurt and turned it into the greatest love!

For many couples Valentine’s Day is the only time they feel loved by their significant other and/or spouse. How do you show your love to each other throughout the year? 

We try to make it a point to still date and flirt with each other. We buy each other little tokens or gifts just because. I perform acts of service like making his lunch or fixing his favorite meal and he’ll do things like wash and fill my car up. He sends flirty text messages all the time and buys my favorite treats to surprise me. We try to watch a movie or show together a few times a week or go on a lunch/dinner date without the kids. To most it may not seem like much but its little things that we do for each other that make us feel special every day. My favorite thing is that we greet and leave each other each day with a kiss, not out of habit but because we truly enjoy kissing each other.

We all enter marriage with our own quirks. What’s one thing your spouse does that drives you crazy but you couldn’t imagine life without him doing it? 

He won’t stay on his side of the bed. In the beginning I was the one that always wanted to cuddle, well the roles have changed and at night I’m smothered! But I love it, and if he’s traveling and not in the bed to smother me I can’t sleep.

Being a wife is more than just a title but it’s a ministry. When the enemy tries to attack your marriage what is your go to scripture? 

Romans 4:20-21 (20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform), although we have only been married for 6 years it feels like we have been tried in every area of our marriage, but this scripture along with Psalm 91 continues to carry us through every trial and tribulation.

Years pass, people grow older, bodies change, babies come but what is one thing about your spouse that still takes your breath away? 

His heart; Jermaine has a love for God, for his family and people in general that is really amazing. He has the biggest heart and will go above and beyond to help anyone he meets.

Many couples have marriage as their ultimate goal. What’s one piece of advice you’d give engaged couples? 

I would encourage any engaged couple to make God the number one priority in their relationship. I know people say “keep God first” all the time, but that has been the key for us. We went into our marriage saying divorce was not an option, and although we had a beautiful wedding we didn’t want our entire focus to be solely on our wedding day, we focused on our marriage and the vows that we took before God and our family and friends. We made a commitment to each other, and a covenant that we intend to honor. I think it’s easy to get engaged and then married with the idea that if it doesn’t work, we can get divorced. We know every day won’t be perfect, and even on the bad days when I don’t like him, I still love him because he truly is my best friend. I couldn’t see myself doing life with anyone other than Jermaine Dupree.

When we were dating we thought we knew it all! Probably believing that marriage was easy but what has marriage taught you about the difference between “regular love” and agape love? 

We definitely thought we knew it all, we had all the right ingredients for a healthy relationship but we had a warped view of what love is. Now that we are older, somewhat wiser and spiritually more mature we know that agape love is unconditional. We love each other beyond what we think or feel, and regardless of what is going on we make a decision to love each other the way Christ called us to. We have a selfless love now instead of a selfish love.

BONUS: Let’s bring some awareness to the discussion. On Valentine’s Day many women who are abused find themselves back with their abuser because the cycle of abuse is real and this holiday makes it easy for abusers to woo their victims.

What would tell those wives who are walking through tough times in their marriages? 

For women walking through tough times in their marriages, I would encourage them to pray individually and collectively. I would encourage them to seek some type of counseling, to maybe attend a couples retreat or have some time away from the day to day grind to reconnect and refocus. For women who are dealing with an abusive relationship, I would encourage them to seek counseling, a safe place if necessary and to seek God for direction and guidance on how they can remove themselves from the situation. If children are involved I would encourage them to ensure the children received counseling as well.