A few times I’ve had brides joke when it came to the wedding vows, “for richer or ... for richer.”  Ha ha. Except it didn’t seem funny. As I thought about it more later, I realized that it’s not only the “poorer” that at some point will come upon every couple that stays together, but each of the other opposites – not only “better” but also “worse”, not only health, but also “sickness” – even death. All these things are the legacy of a couple that stays together “until death shall part” them. Many of us fail to keep these forever vows, but we never renounce their importance and value. If we plan to marry again, what we promise then will probably be about the same. An introspective person might at times wonder, “Do I really know what love is?”, “Can I live the kind of love called for in marriage?” It’s really the opposite end of the feeling/thinking scale from the starry-eyed couple that has never had a fight and knows they will always be best friends. Weddings should cause us to look within. Making a life-long pledge to someone ought to create some healthy introspection. It’s naive to think that we really understand our intented spouse, ourselves, what the world might throw at us - or what is required by real love. Are you wondering what true love is? Read this article, "When Wounded Vets Come Home" and see it in flesh and blood. This is the kind of love that the Apostle Paul says, “never fails.” It's so difficult. No wonder it's also so rare. (The photograph is by Erika Larsen/Redux.)