In my congregation was an older couple. When they were 5-years old, they were playmates. They went to school together and were friends, and then became boyfriend and girlfriend. When they graduated high school, they married and raised a family together, they loved each other dearly all those years; never were apart. I knew them well for many years. Wonderful people and wonderful life together. When I last visited them, they were in the hospital, both almost 90-years old; he on one level and she on the floor below his. He was not seriously ill, had merely fallen, but during the night she passed. Eight hours later, he was gone. Tremendous loving relationship. I feel chills up my back and tears come to my eyes whenever I think of this. There are clearly things greater than we are. Many want to minimalize marriage. This couple is that the problem is not with marriage. The problem is with people.