The Role of Friendship in Marriage!
I hear people talk about marriage as being a centre for love, romance, and commitment, but I tell you, one truth is found at the centre of every marriage; friendship. I don't mean the casual kind of friendship or the distant one, but the kind that makes you feel safe, understood, and accepted. When two people marry and also choose to be friends, everything else in the relationship becomes easier to handle.
When I talk about friendship in marriage, its not about being perfect or acting like everything is always smooth, its simply about liking the person you love, of course some couples forget this part a lot. They face responsibilities, expectations, and minding the seriousness of marriage that they stop being playful with each other. When you open yourself to friendship in marriage, it reminds you why you chose your partner in the first place.
A healthy friendship between partners simply means you can talk without fear of being judged, you can share your thought, even the silly, embarrassing, or confusing ones. It also means you can sit in silence without feeling awkward. Friendship gives marriage a natural sound where both partners feel seen and heard.
Have you ever thought about the way you treat your closest friend? You listen, you laugh, you give grace, and you support them. So what stops you from applying that same energy to your marriage.
When you open yourself, you notice that suddenly arguments become less harsh because you are arguing with someone you genuinely care about, not someone you want to defeat. You make easy decisions because you are thinking like teammates, not opponents. Even in difficult seasons, you don’t feel the heaviness because you know you are not walking through them alone.
One of the most beautiful parts of friendship in marriage is comfort. No one knows what life may throw at them anytime, but when you find yourself ina state of stress, disappointment, or moments when you don’t even feel like yourself, your spouse who is also your friend becomes a place to breathe.
At this time you need the closest person and that happens to be your spouse. They know how to check on you without asking too many questions, they know the small things that could calm you down; maybe a warm meal, a soft joke, or just sitting beside you quietly or a hug. Those small gestures matter more than millions of gifts or romantic speeches.
Another important part of friendship in marriage is fun. Marriage should not feel like a long list of duties, it should also carry joy. Friends laugh together so try new things, share secrets, and create inside jokes. It may seem you don't have the time, wwll you can create time if its important to you. It keeps the relationship alive.
Fun moments don’t have to be dramatic, sometimes it’s just dancing in the kitchen, teasing each other, or taking a simple walk while holding hands. These small moments build memories that strengthen the marriage.
Friendship also helps couples forgive faster, yes it does. When you are with your friends and disagree on things, you know how quick you try to calm down because you value the relationship? In marriage, that mindset is powerful.
Instead of holding grudges or letting little things get to you, you remember the bond you share, and it becomes easier to say, “Let’s fix this.” Friendship encourages patience, it reminds you that you are on the same lane.
At the end of the day, love or no love may start a marriage, but friendship keeps it steady. Marriage built only on feelings may shake when life becomes tough, but marriage built on friendship stands firm like a rock. When you marry someone who is not just your partner but also your friend, you don’t just build a home, you build a safe haven. You build a place where you can be fully yourself and still be loved deeply.
And that kind of marriage is worth nurturing every single day.
Even when you feel you don't love your partner, you can open yourself to friendship. Start from there and gradually develop love. Love is built in friendship, and a steady marriage is built on friendship!
Curated by: @ahsansharif