Keeping Our Best Friend Status

I can honestly say that my husband is my best friend.  There is no person on earth with whom I’d rather spend time! When we first met, we naturally wanted to spend as much time together as possible. We talked, we shared, we loved…and our friendship grew. It is this way in the beginning of most marriages. But why is it that sometimes, the friendship that blossoms at the beginning of marriage seems to wilt over the years? Is it because we get too busy with “life” that we take who should be our best friend for granted? Possibly. Or, do we simply not take the time to intentionally cultivate our friendship, and our best friend status fades? Maybe our attention turns to our children or family responsibilities. Many things can distract us from our relationship as husband and wife. However, it doesn’t have to be that way! We can have a vibrant, growing friendship with our spouse in any season of our marriage if we give our relationship the attention it deserves.
That is what my husband and I decided to do…to give our marriage top priority. And, what we discovered is that being best friends with each other is one of the greatest perks to have in marriage! Not only do we get to love and live with our best friend, we have a built in encourager as we face every challenge and joy in our day! We don’t have to handle things alone, we have a best friend who is by our side. 

One of the main things we have learned about friendship over the years is that to have a friend, we need to be a friend. The things that we desire from friendship are quite often the things that our spouses want as well because the human heart longs for healthy companionship. A great exercise is to make a list of the qualities that say “best friend” to you, and then be that friend for your husband or wife. 

“Do to others as you would like them to do to you” (Luke 6:31).

The list of things that have developed and kept our friendship with each other as a “best friend status” is simple, really. Each is based on mutual respect and the desire to have all God intends for our marriage. 

• Make being best friends a priority 
• Put the marriage friendship first 
• Have fun together 
• Encourage one another 
• Listen to each other 
• Don’t judge or make demands 
• Forgive and extend grace 
• Show respect and honor for each other 
• Make and spend time together 
• Take an interest in what your spouse enjoys 
• Be honest and hold each other accountable 
• Love one another 

Basically, it is living out Christ’s “golden rule” and offering to our spouse what we ourselves most desire. May you find that as you live out the qualities you long for in your friendship with your spouse, your relationship with each other will flourish and you will enjoy a marriage abundant with God’s blessings! 

Celebrating life with my best friend, 

12/20/12 - Water to Wine Marriage, Joan Davis

Linked with:

Thought Provoking Thursdays
Thriving Thursdays
Every Day Jesus
Recommendation Saturday

Spiritual Sundays

Weekend Brew
Three Word Wednesday