Six months ago today I married my best friend. That statement sounds so cliché – just about everybody refers to their spouse or significant other as their best friend. So what does it mean to have a best friend – a term that is quite frequently overused and overrated? I’ve given it much thought, since a best friend is always someone I wanted to have in my life. I assumed that every girl should have a best friend; there were a few times when I thought I had one, only to end up quite hurt by that person in the long run. ‘Best friend’ eventually became synonymous for disappointment and rejection. However, I never quite gave up the hope that my best friend was out there somewhere.

My dear husband has taught me what it means to have and be a best friend. He gets excited when I’m excited, even if it’s over something that he never would have considered interesting before. He is eager in discovering new hobbies and interests if they are important to me. He truly hurts when I am disappointed or hurt. He takes time to make sure that I understand his point of view so that I can trust him even more. He takes time to do little things that show me how much I mean to him. He verbally affirms me every day, yet he doesn’t just say I’m the #1 person in his life, he goes out of his way to show me that I am. We laugh together, play together, work together, dream together, serve together, grieve together, hope together, and simply share life together.

I am learning that a best friend brings out the best in their friend. A best friend sees what your heart wants to be and does everything possible to bring that potential to fulfillment. That’s what my best friend does. I have never felt more complete, fulfilled, or hopeful about who I am and what I am capable of accomplishing; it’s because my best friend believes in me without hesitation. He is able to do this because we share a Best Friend in common. We are both aiming to be like Jesus and this enables us to bring out the best in each other.

Best friends are worth waiting for.