A friend, when going to marry his wife, was put through a test, what I will call a test of loyalty.

After the introduction, he was expecting to be given the list of items the family will request for the marriage ceremony. He was promised the fiancée will deliver it to him, but after waiting for weeks with no response, he got worried.

Unknown to him, his in-laws had question marks about his health status and this contributed to the delayed list, even though she had assured them he was fit.

Finally, he got to know and went for all kinds of tests. Knowing that every good thing deserved a fight, he was ready to go through the pressure, frustration and insults just to be with the one he loved as far as she loved him too.

After presenting the results, the in-laws congratulated him for passing the test and added that if they had been in his place, they would probably have quit the relationship.

Dear readers, real love stands the test of time, test of faith and the test of loyalty. If you are going to have a successful marriage, you need someone who won't quit when the going gets tough, who won't throw in the towel under pressure, who is ready to go the extra mile; one who is ready to fight for the love you share; for anything worth having is worth fighting for.

Someone who will grow old with you and be able to say ‘I have lived an amazing life with you.’ Someone who won't leave you if there are hundreds of reasons to give up but finds one reason to hold on, which is the love you share.

People who threaten to leave at the least instance are not candidates for a long lasting marriage for "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" - 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT).

Someone who treats you as a choice, a thought or an option is not loyal to you; accept the one who treats you as a priority, who is ready to forgive you when you go wrong, ready to admit their shortfall, and humble enough to learn about you. Pay attention to how they react to your sadness, it also speaks a lot about how long they are going to be in your life.

In life, many things don't go according to plan, this is why you need a partner who is loyal to you, for when you fall, he or she will help you up; if you stumble, they will help regain your balance; who never gives up on you.

Remember anyone can love when the sun is shining but in the storm, is where you find who truly cares for you.

Men, a king always protects his queen, to love is to protect and protection comes from someone who is loyal.

Ladies, falling in love is only half of what you want, staying in love is the rest, so be with someone who treats you like a destination, not a stop along the way.

In conclusion, you need to get married to someone who will say "Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God" - Ruth 1:16 (NLT)