What does marriage offer me that true friendship does not?
970168
The chance to help a divorce lawyer send his kids to college.
1002340
I suppose it would depend on what kind of friendship it is, and what type of Love you are referring to.  Sometimes friendship turns into a Loving relationship, which involves a great deal of intimacy on many levels, and other times it turns to Love without the intimacy.  For example, there is someone that I do Love, and it is my wife.  I also Love my children.  I have a friend whom I Love, and our relationship is more like a counselor type relationship where we counsel one another, and help one another.  The last two have different levels of intimacy, and different types of intimacy than the first one ... yet, I do give Love in each of those scenerios.\n\nWe are called to Love everyone, including out enemies.  So I would think that friendships come from Love, but not necessarily from intimacy.\n\nI hope that helps you.  Good luck.
976782
There are few religions in the US which forbid dating at this point.  Many offer the alternative of "courtship" which is essentially the same thing, they just assume that you not sin in the process.\n\nArranged marriages are historically far more common than the search for "the one".  We may consider ourselves lucky that we have such a choice.  The trick to making a marriage last is not finding the right person, though that is the single easiest thing you can do to make it easier.  The trick is to never give up.  Based on that, you could conceivably make anything work.\n\nMany people choose to go straight from friendship to marriage.  Through friendship over several years, you can get to know a person very well, perhaps more honestly than if they were trying to impress you as a mate.  Many people describe "the one" as their best friend who they sleep with.  Finding a best friend does not require dating.  As for the physical part, that should come rather naturally.
1012208
friendship becasue this is true love ...\nLove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.\nYou have to be a friend before you can even hope to have a stable love relationship.
932559
I've been married for 17 years to a wonderful man.  We've had our ups and downs, been through financial feast and famine, illness, the deaths of our parents and grandparents and a dozen other little trials I can't recall.\n\nThe biggest "pro" to being married, I think, is that you have someone to share your thoughts and feelings with.  You have someone to lean on and support you - and someone who will appreciate the support you provide.  After you are married for a while, you develop your own "couples" sense of humor.  There will be things only you two find funny.  You will take road trips together in the car and play silly car games.  You'll lay awake in bed at night and giggle about nothing.   You develop a sort of empathic sense about the other person so you can sense their feelings before they even speak sometimes.  I appreciate my husband more and more the longer we are married.  You just don't get that kind of companionship outside of marriage.  \n\nThe drawbacks, I suppose are the same mundane drawbacks that come whenever you share physical space with another human.  They aren't always neat (but neither are you), sometimes they smell, sometimes they are selfish and intolerant.  But who isn't?
477537
Our life can be divided in different step. Every step needs different stuff and so there will be the time when the friendship will be more necessary than other things.\nThen it just comes the time of the true love and often friendship goes in the background. They both are important with different meaning and purpose. Obviously if I have to choose the love will be my firm choice!
306676
Great friendship every time - its for life and its ultimately more fulfilling. But just like sex, it takes two and it takes a lot of work - and its never what you get - its what you give.
1148214
I am on my second marriage, and let me tell you, marriage sucks donkey dick!  I would not get married again unless God himself told me to get married!  I think the number of times that is too many is a personal choice.  Tradionally, the number has been one time and you are out unless of death or adultery or abuse.  Nowdays, you can get married in a matter of minutes of meeting someone and be divorced by the end of next week (in some places).  Like I said I think it is a personal choice, and what your friend decides you need to stick by him if he is really a friend.  If it bothers you so much either talk to him or stop being his friend.
469598
My best advice to you is to tell him how you feel. I told my best friend that and we have now been married for 2 years. If they dont feel the same, you can still be friends, you telling them might just get them to look at you in a different way. Good luck.
445223
I usually find friendship when a common bond is formed thru conversation. If that doesn't happen then I leave it alone.
300320
Opposites DO attract, but often, eventually they repel. At first, someone with seriously differing viewpoints can seem very interesting, and challenging, especially if they are good looking. Eventually though you realize that when you differ so much, you argue, particularly if the differences are over really important things. In my opinion, being married to your "best friend" is the best option!
879163
The best advice I can give on this is that marriages are not perfect but i can tell that my friends marriage is more blessed, powerful and stronger than most I've saw becuause they waited. Its not that God is not wanting you  to to enjoy yourself, He's trying to prevent you from so many heartaches and problems that you can't see or understand. My friend and his wife I don't believe will ever know haft the struggles that alot of couples go through. Also if you wait God says He'll give you the desires of your heart. If someone tells you not to wait, they are living for the world and the truth is not in them! They are Liars. I did not say it.... God did!
501252
Of course. That is healthy. Some, like friendships, can be dropped if not healthy or they've been outgrown. Others, such as marriage, will take work to keep healthy instead of using it as an excuse to fall back into our own selfish habits or to selfishly say that we aren't "in love" and leave.
138121
It sounds like maybe you're not being completely up front with them from the beginning about the 'being married' part. Maybe they're getting some kind of vibe from you that you're looking for someone to have an affair with. Are you going out of your way to get men friends? If so, why when you're married?
105768
your in a hole different ball game now. your married they are not. this is when you find out who your real friends are. and you being married shouldn't have anything to do with them not hanging out with you any more. i will ask my good friend and get back to you
1084181
It partly depends on your age and marital status.  If you're young and never married, it may be thoughts that your energy and sexuality should go only to the one you marry.  \n\nIf you've already been that route and are now free to do what you want with your life,  I see nothing wrong with being Friends with Benefits if part of the benefits are mutual respect.\n\nYou may be feeling some guilt because society tells us this is bad.   Don't fall into that old cycle.  Sexuality is as natural as eating.  We are born to share love and that's what you're doing......\n\nIf you feel fear because it won't be a permanent situation, keep moving forward with your life.   Work on your career, hobbies, sports, new friendships, whatever is of interest to you.  Don't focus too much beyond 'now' because doing so causes anxiety and takes away the joy of this minute.  Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring so enjoy today as best you're able.
1003071
When you meet someone who has the same values as you with respect to honesty, faithfulness and a commitment to true love then you will have found that special someone who completes you. It's hard sometimes to be patient, I know how you feel, and I too keep hoping to meet that person in life. If you need a friend then feel free to email or contact me.\n\nBest Wishes to you !