“A sacrament--like marriage--means living a life better than your natural instincts, so that you're modeling God. And God never gives up.”

“They say that there are moments that open up your life like a walnut cracked, that change your point of view so that you never look at things the same way again.”

“If God wanted us to act on instinct, we wouldn't have the power of reason.”

“The ability to find sparks may be buried so deep in you that you stop believing there's a God. Until someone comes along, with so much light in her that you can't help but see your own, and when you're together,that light grows even brighter.”

“God doesn't give people burdens they can't handle.”

“Things that look impossible suddenly seem a lot better, once you get God on board.”

“When we sat down on the couch again, you curled up against my side, like you used to when you were a toddler. What I wanted to say to you, but didn't, was this: Don't use me as your model. I'm the last person you should look up to.”