I know that one always tends to filter out the negatives when looking back at the past, but let's at least acknowledge that a loving, long term, committed relationship is a whole lot of work as well. Along with all of the great times comes a good amount of rocky times, fights, disagreements that sometimes need to remain unresolved (i.e., agreeing to disagree), and various stresses put upon each of you that you would never experience had you remained single. If you have kids, all of that increases exponentially.

A loving relationship is the sum of all the best times and worst times, knowing that you appreciated the best times when they came and knowing that you managed to find a way to get through the worst times when you were faced with those challenges. It is also knowing that those challenges will never end and that you are completely committed to putting in the work necessary to be a great spouse and (if applicable) parent. If you both don't have that, your relationship is a ticking time bomb.

A least that's my take on it after 13 years (this month!) of being committed to the same woman who I married after a whirlwind one month courtship, and going through plenty of ups and downs over that period, but never regretting my initial decision to dedicate my life to her. It's the one decision that stands out in my life as the best.

Also, let me add that we are both not particularly religious people and are both still searching to find our definitions of "faith" in this universe, so a marriage can last and work well with or without religion in it.