T.D. Jakes and Serita Jakes Share the Secret of Their 30 Year Marriage
T.D. Jakes and Serita Jakes are celebrating being married for 30 years; an accomplishment given the sorry state of marriage in America today. They have now shared about how they've been able to overcome challenges and maintain a healthy relationship across three decades.
In a recent interview on "Oprah's Next Chapter," the Jakes couple opened up about what has kept them together. When asked by Oprah about the lasting power of their marriage, Serita Jakes said, "Lots of communication, lots of talking over the phone when he's traveling. As he's evolved, I've had to evolve with him, and so, instead of being left behind, when he goes out into the world, he comes back and he tells me about everything."
T.D. and Serita Jakes were married in 1981 and have five children together. They testified that they have experienced difficulties together like all couples, but that through the difficult times they were able to come closer to one another. Not even six months into their marriage the couple suffered a devastating car crash that left doctors unsure if Serita would ever walk again.
"I think it enriched our marriage in a lot of ways," Bishop Jakes said. "It was very difficult to go through. I prayed for her, I took care of her, I cooked for her, I washed her hair, taught her how to walk, literally. I stood in front of her and said you can do this and taught her to walk again."
"It brought us together in a way – we have an unexplainable connection. I guess at the core, we're friends…I know that she is for me."
The car was not the only difficult point that they had to overcome, but Serita also had to deal with her husband's past.
