This showed up on my feed, and it stopped me in my tracks. I want to remember it always.
From Paula Rainey:
“Your spouse is the one who’ll sit beside you when your parents die. Who’ll hold your hand through childbirth? Who might have to bathe you if you’re too sick to stand? This isn’t just about butterflies or date nights. It’s about choosing someone who shows up—in grief, in mess, in uncertainty. So no, I don’t believe love alone is enough. Commitment, maturity, and the ability to endure life’s ugly parts—that’s what sustains a marriage. Because when life gets painfully real, romance won’t carry your character. And the truth is, forever is only possible with someone who knows how to stay when it’s hard to love.”