Stairs Don’t Build Themselves—and Neither Do Relationships

I’ve been watching some laborers across the street working on a staircase in an apartment complex. First, they tore the old one down—I’m guessing it was either rotten or dangerously unstable.

That part didn’t take long—just a day. But rebuilding it? That’s a different story. It's taking much longer. I can tell from the steady rhythm of hammers and tools echoing through the neighborhood. The process is intricate, detailed, and it has to be structurally sound. They’re rebuilding it slowly and carefully, piece by piece, from the ground up. Every stage is double-checked—because someone’s life may depend on their work.

It has to be done right. Methodically. If it isn’t, the stairs could collapse under pressure—under the weight of someone moving a heavy sofa or hauling a washing machine. That kind of failure could be disastrous. That’s why the builders are taking their time.

Relationships are a lot like building staircases.

If your marriage or relationship is rotten, sometimes it needs a complete tear-down before it can be rebuilt. That’s painful. That’s hard.

Then comes the slow, steady work of rebuilding—effort, intentionality, and sometimes tedious attention to detail. But if you do it well—patiently and purposefully—it can bear the heavy burdens and withstand the storms of life.

And you’ll be stronger for it.

That’s worth it.