Jacqueline Jackson is an example of a wife who honored her wedding vows.

Jacqueline Jackson is now the widow of Jesse Jackson, who was a preacher, and a controversial civil rights leader, and a politician. This picture speaks a thousand words to many other widows and me. The Jacksons were married for 63 years, and through all of their challenges, they remained together. This is not easy when one is in the public eye.

Today, many couples write their own vows. I am thankful mine were old school, and I am certain they were the same vows the Jacksons took.

For richer or poorer, for better or worse, in sickness, and in health, until death do you part.

After my husband died, two of his male friends said to me separately, "You honored your vows until death. Not many people do that today."

I understand that every relationship is different and that there are circumstances where a marriage cannot survive. If your journey was different, this article is no reflection on you. It celebrates those who by God's grace, were able to endure.

The above image was taken in 2011 when the couple had been married for 48 years. My husband passed away after we had been together for 45 years. The day before he had a stroke that would take his life five months later, we sat in a church holding hands at a funeral.

Our legs were together, and this was our unspoken language. It says there is still love and intimacy. I become frustrated when women today say they want to live in another house or another city away from their husbands. People say this works for them, but distance does not build true intimacy.

Some couples remain together but are not still in love. One widow told me she loved her husband but was not in love with him. When you can sit close beside your spouse after four decades or more and hold hands, it sends a message that you don't have to announce to the world.

It says that you and your spouse are each other's person, their ride or die. The world considers intercourse only as intimacy, but people have sex all the time without being in love. Intimacy is those little moments where a look, the wink of an eye, a smile, or holding of hands, says "You're still the one."

Jacqueline Jackson mostly remained in the background as her husband fought for the causes he believed in. She also endured a situation that has broken up many marriages. Jesse Jackson admitted that he cheated on his wife and had a sixth child with a woman who worked for him.

An affair is painful enough, but a child born from adultery must be an entirely different level of hurt. According to PEOPLE Jackie and her children were hurt by the betrayal, but the Jacksons got through the ordeal with prayer and forgiveness.

Many women have left their husbands or put them out after infidelity. Wendy Williams, the former talk show host, said she was broken when her former spouse cheated and had a baby with the girlfriend. Wendy said the girlfried was driving the car she paid for.

This must have been absolutely devastating, considering she was in the public eye, spilling the tea on other couples. Jeffrey Sr. moved out of the home he shared with Wendy and their son and began a new life with his mistress.

Jacqueline Jackson and her husband were able to work through their differences and keep their marriage intact. For those who might say it was political and for appearances, take a look at the above photo again. You can see the love.

Life happens to us all, and every marriage has its tests. Still, when you can sit close together and hold hands in public, after five or six decades, it reveals a greater truth.

Whatever challenges or fights you had, no matter how many people attempted to get in your ear, and even through adultery, neither one of you walked away or put the other out. And you did not remain together for appearances-the love was real and lasting, and it showed.