Category Archives: Married and Friends

Friends Give Gifts to Each Other

A healthy marriage is one where the two are friends.  When a husband and wife lose the elements of friendship, the relationship struggles and becomes dutiful.  This is a dangerous place to be.  The benefit of having a Christian home … Continue reading

Posted in Building a family, close family, Family Issues, Friends, friendship, Generosity, Giving, Gratitude, Married and Friends | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Friends are Committed through the Hard Times

Nothing proves friendship like adversity.    Friendship is costly.  Sometimes it is not easy to stand with people during difficult hours.   It will take time, energy, and may involve money.    “Words are easy, like the wind; faithful friends are hard to … Continue reading

Posted in adversity, bearing burdens, Commitment, Faithfulness, Family Issues, Friends, friendship, Loyalty, Married and Friends, suffering | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Friends Hurt with Each Other

At the kernel of every close relationship are the marks of friendship.   As we cultivate friendship we strengthen the relationship.   This is seen in marriage and parenting, too.   It is good for us then to identify these qualities, and understand … Continue reading

Posted in adversity, bearing burdens, Discouragement, Encouragement, Family Issues, Friends, friendship, Married and Friends, sorrow | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Friends Express Their Feelings to Each Other

A close friend had been sick and in the hospital and was rapidly declining.  My wife and I went to visit him.   We didn’t know it would be the last time we would ever see him when we walked into … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmation, Attention, close family, communication, emotions, Encouragement, Family Issues, friendship, Gratitude, Growing marriage, Happy marriage, Kindness, Married and Friends, Speech, Time | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Friends Serve One Another

One of my fondest memories of friendship came out of a time when Paula and I were hurting the most.   We were at home, both of us recovering from physical setbacks. I had been in the hospital with pneumonia two … Continue reading

Posted in Building a family, Christ-centered marriage, close family, Family Issues, friendship, Giving, Growing marriage, Marriage, Married and Friends, regrets, Selfishness, serving | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Friendship and Marriage

One of the keys to a happy marriage is to have the same ingredients in the relationship that are present in a friendship. The love story given in the Song of Solomon reflects this when the bride refers to her … Continue reading

Posted in Family Issues, friendship, Marriage, Married and Friends | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment