Best Friends!

(My best friend and I in Williamsburg, VA  recently!)

I must admit I was not prepared to do a post for Marriage Monday today.  Last night I had just returned from a company trip I took with my husband to Williamsburg, VA.  There is a pile of laundry waiting and luggage that still needs unpacking, but when I saw the theme I thought, ‘I can't pass up this opportunity to join in and share my thoughts on this topic.’

For those of you who may be reading Marriage Monday for the first time, "E-Mom" over at Chrysalis  started this awesome meme.  Each Monday, once a month a different topic about marriage is chosen for us to write about, discuss, and glean from each other's experiences.

Today's topic is, "Friendship In Marriage". 

We were encouraged to share about things you do together that foster good feelings, and how we celebrate our friendship.  Thanks once again E-mom for a great topic and being such a gracious hostess. 

When I think about spending time with my friends, I get really excited.  After all, these are the ladies you know "intimately" and share many things in common.  They are the ones you trust with your craziest dreams and thoughts, and share your deepest secrets and fears.   True friends are the ones you just enjoy being with, because they bring encouragement, support, and laughter into your life.

All of these are the same ingredients needed for a marriage that will endure the tests and tides of time.

I like to think of marriage as a friendship more then any other kind of relationship. Yes, romance is sweet, and being parents together is probably the most self-less thing you can do, but true friendship in marriage is in a class of its own!

A few of the things that have fostered our friendship in marriage over the last 30 years has been:

♥ Writing notes and sending cards to each other

♥ Taking evening walks together to talk and catch up on our day’s activities

♥ Surprise or an unplanned lunch together

♥ Date nights

♥ Anniversary get-a-way weekends

♥ Just calling each other just to say hi and say I love you

Building a strong friendship in marriage takes time and effort.  It's all about preferring one another above your own self.  It's loving and bearing each other's burdens.  It's dreaming each other's dreams, rejoicing in accomplishments, and being a support when things go wrong. 

I could go on and on, but I think you are getting the picture. 

My very best friend in the whole world is the same man I made a covenant with at an altar 30 years ago.  The same man who gave me five wonderful sons, a beautiful home and security.  A man that loves Jesus, and has been such an example of what sacrificial love really looks like. 

Someone I love being with no matter where we are or what we are doing (except sports sometimes).

I'm so grateful God answered the very first prayer I prayed as a young Christian when I said,

"Lord send me a friend who knows and loves you the same way I do."

And Jesus answered that prayer the very next day when he led me to my precious husband!  I love you Rick!

Please join us today over at Chrysalis for more Marriage Monday stories.