My husband and I love to talk, to ponder and to dig into everything from the most important things, like how to encourage a love of Scripture in our children, to the most silly, like how one might systematically train to be a carnival ride designer.
I think there is something beautiful and valuable about a married couple who are also best friends. I got into many relationships when I was younger where my boyfriend quickly became my best friend, and all my other friendships took a back seat. I would share everything with my boyfriend, and we would go everywhere together.
When the relationship ended, I not only lost a boyfriend but also my sense of who I was. I had neglected my other friends and was left floundering. My husband is the only human being with whom I have entered into a covenant and have vowed to love and honor all the days of my life.
Having other great friends gave us the freedom to discern marriage well. We need other human beings who care for us deeply and are willing to make sacrifices to support us. Do I do all these things with my husband too? My husband and I were blessed to meet each other at a time when we were both free to pursue marriage.
We discussed our values, our hopes and dreams and our struggles. After about a year of getting to know each other, we decided to make the leap into marriage. My husband and I grow in friendship every year; but at the time we got married, my best friend had a six-year head start on her own marriage. And that head start was a blessing to my marriage. Many a time, my husband has remarked how watching my best friend and I interact has helped him to know and love me better.
