I remember when my older son (6 at the time) and I were watching the animated movie Shrek. Because he's very empathetic, he picks up on people's emotions quite strongly. There was a scene that showed Shrek sitting eating dinner all alone. My son turned to me, and said ?Mummy, it must be really hard being alone all the time.? I looked at him and said ?That's true Luke.? And then I thought to myself, ?Everyone needs friends.?

I've seen many women especially and sometimes men, take a great deal of ill treatment from the people they're involved in a relationship with simply because of the fear of being alone. No one wants to be alone. Friendship and companionship are basic needs of your spouse. Husband or wife. So it's very vital to your relationship that you supply this need or they might look for it in the wrong place or with the wrong person(s).

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Are you that kind of friend? The one who sticks closer than a a blood relative? That's the kind of friend you should be to your wife or husband.

Friendship is not about the quantity, but the quality. There are many people we call "friends". But how many of them can we truly call our friends? Much more than developing friendships with others, we should ensure that we are true friends of our spouses.

This means that sometimes as wives, we shouldn't only see our relationship as one that provides or supplies our husband's romantic needs, but one that should provide his friendship needs. And vice-versa. If you would do that, he would be less likely to go out and talk to his friends about you, and you would be less likely to go out and talk to your friends about him.

Who is a friend? What does a friend do? Lets see 7 wise sayings about friendship from the greatest book in the world:

A friend comforts and supports you when you're in trouble.

"When Job's three friends, ? heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him." Job 2:11

A friend is devoted (ardently loyal) to you.

"A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends." Job 6:14

A friend loves you no matter the situation or what you've done.

"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

A friend speaks constructively even when it hurts and does not flatter.

"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." Proverbs 27:6

A friend is expected to help you when you're down.

"If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:10

A friend has intimate knowledge of your affairs.

"? A servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends." John 15:15

A friend makes your life better by good advice

"The pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel." Proverbs 27:9

I have a few friends whom I'm quite close to. My siblings, my mum and I all have a close relationship, but the truth is that my husband is my best friend. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother to me. He truly supplies my need for friendship so that I don't need to look for it elsewhere.

Friendship endures longer than passion. It will keep a marriage fulfilling and enjoyable when desire is no longer that important to the couple. Many of us are already friends of our partners and so it should be. But some people haven't yet developed this kinds of relationship as a couple

Our spouses should be the first people we should look to when we have a difficulty, for support and encouragement. Even when we have a grievance with them, we should go to them first and not others. We should enjoy seating down with to and talk, laugh, and sometimes be companionably quiet. Friendship is an adhesive that will keep your relationship together. Are you meeting that basic need?