“Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family”. (Proverb 18:24 – GWT).

In the words of Ralph Waldo, the only way to have a friend is to be one. There is nothing as valuable as genuine friendship and most especially when it is built with your spouse. A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same, he gives you the liberty to be yourself. In marital relationship; a friend is the charming gardener that makes the soul blossom, it is that great contribution to ones success that makes it of indefinable proportions, it is a loving outstretched hand that is always longing and holding yours, no matter how close or far apart you may be, it is someone who is always there and will always, always care, it is one that sacrifices for you and always willing to repeat same and it is one that can be inconvenienced at all times and always ready to be there for you at all times. Friends, it’s disheartening that in marital cycles today these attributes are alien among couples which is an absurdity that must be promptly corrected.

Friendship in marriage should be mutual and reciprocal between couples, as between David and Jonathan; when you receive friendship from your spouse, you ought to return it, or otherwise you’ll be guilty of great ingratitude. Are you single or married? Build up friendship with your partner and let it permeate laughter, give room for sharing pleasures as the heart is nourished and refreshed in such little things. Are you a friend or an enemy to your partner? Are you destroying one another or you are a loving friend to your spouse? then friendship demands you bring out the best in him or her.

Albert Camus once said: “Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead; don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow; just walk beside me and be my friend. Are you married or in a relationship? The Lord demands friendship with your spouse or partner. A friend showeth himself friendly. (Proverb 18:24). Do you desire to make your marriage worth admiring? Is your desire to speak to the one you love such that he or she will always be there to listen and attend to you? Then friendship in marriage must be built with love and trust first. Make a resolution on this today and let your closest and best friend be your spouse or partner.

Prayer Lines: Father, cleave my spouse to my soul in love and trust that our friendship may blossom genuinely.