Friend or Life Partner

• May 3, 2025
• by Dr. Saji P. Mathai
• in Life Lessons

Do you have friends? Do you have a life partner? What is the main difference between these two relationships? Are both relationships necessary?

A friend in need is a friend indeed. How do you choose friends? You choose people who have the same interests, mindset, and thoughts you have as your friends, right? When you are happy, they will share your happiness. When you are sad, they will grieve with you. When you make mistakes and fall short, they will give you the reactions you expect. You will love someone who thinks and acts like you. 

How is a life partner related to you? How do you choose a life partner? Is a life partner just your friend? A life partner will be different from you in knowledge, thoughts, interests, likes, actions, and abilities. You choose such a person as a life partner to fill your shortcomings and become a whole person. They are your friends, mentors, and role models; they correct you, they want to see only the good in you, and they stand by you throughout your life. Unity in diversity should be seen in life partners.

Why are so many people unhappy with their life partners today? You owe a lot to your partner for your life together. The basis for this is an unwritten agreement that couples make during marriage. First, before marriage, I lived according to my wishes and desires. But from now on, I will live according to the wishes of both of us. Second, until now, I owned my body. From now on, my body is your right and yours is my responsibility. Third, until now, I was the most important person to me, and from now on, you will be the most important person in my life. Couples who knowingly or unknowingly change these conditions will lose trust in each other and be forced to live with the consequences of an unhappy marital relationship.

If you cannot love, care for, and protect your partner despite their differences, then you just need a friendship. The glory of human life is to live together with a partner. Do not let differences of opinion, changes in interests, and circumstances destroy the marital relationship. When you cannot resolve the crisis yourself, you should seek help from a qualified person.

A friend and a life partner are relationships that should be maintained until the end of life. Therefore, if one relationship breaks, you should immediately find another one.
May you be able to be a good life partner. In any situation, I am with you. This is my word. Dr. Saji Mathai