by Nora Jacques

We see them on the big screen, we see their faces on the magazine covers and we all wonder “how do they do it?”

Marriage is difficult enough without worrying about the paparazzi, bad publicity, complex business deals and challenges that many of us can’t even imagine.Yet, we see these elite couples: standing strong, facing adversity, living in the public eye with the grace God has given them.

Here are five black and married celebrity couples and the marriage lessons we can pull from them.

Principle: Evolving Through Friendship

Bishop T.D. and Serita Jakes – “My husband is my boyfriend,” shares First Lady Serita Jakes in Ebony Magazine. Such refreshing words to hear from such a powerful, yet humble leader.

Despite the enormous magnitude of their empire, (the 30,000-member Potter’s House church in Dallas, Texas, the 100,000-attendee, nationally renowned Mega-Fest along with a conglomerate of endeavors in film, television, books, housing – you name it!) Thomas Dexter Jakes and his lovely wife, Serita Jakes claim at their core – is their friendship.

This couple really knows how to keep the party going. They date. They dance together. They go to the beach.

Even in their most difficult challenge, their friendship prevailed. Serita Jakes was in a car accident and the doctors didn’t know if she would ever walk again. In this difficult time, T.D. Jakes cooked for his wife, cleaned for her and even washed her hair.