"One of the major pillars for a great marriage is friendship. Where a husband or wife is 100% confident that they have a friend in their spouse, it makes a difference. Don't just be husband and wife; that friendship element is absolutely important. Friendship has to be nourished and nurtured regularly or it will face the danger of becoming like a business relationship.
Your spouse must be able to sit down and talk to you about anything without you getting defensive or behaving as if they are a burden to you. Your spouse should be able to joke with you about anything and just feel free to be themselves around you. Many husbands and wives are not themselves when they are around each other. However, when they come around those they consider friends or family, they let loose; that should not be so. In fact, you should have the most fun with your spouse; give them room to be goofy and free around you; let your children see that side of you.
Stop being so rigid and official with each other. You joke with everyone else but frown at each other; relax!! Please build friendship & maintain friendship. This also means that even when your spouse may be at their lowest point, you are there to pick them up, not tear them down. Exactly what you will do for someone you consider a friend; do the same and even much more for your spouse. Friendship is core and marriage is the greatest platform to experience true and lasting friendship. That's part of what will keep your bond of love tight"
- Excerpt from a Family Life Class teaching by Kemi Oyedepo
