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4 Seasons in Life When I’m Thankful I Married my Best Friend

4 Seasons in Life When I’m Thankful I Married my Best Friend

Last updated on: June 10, 2026 at 4:54 am by Tori Carpenter

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4 Seasons in Life When I’m Thankful I Married my Best Friend 2026-06-10T04:54:04-07:00 Tori Carpenter

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When your spouse can sit and cry with you and hold your hand as you move forward, it makes whatever pain and grief you are facing feel a little bit lighter. | Image courtesy of the author.

My husband and I will be celebrating 16 years of marriage this year, and there is no one I’d rather share this life with than him. He gets me, he makes me laugh, he listens to me without judgment, and gives me looks that need no words to interpret. As cliché as it may sound, he truly is my best friend. He knows me better than anyone and is my favorite person in the world to spend time with.

One piece of advice I would give my kids about marriage is to marry someone they know well and genuinely love being around. Life isn’t always going to be easy, and you need someone by your side who can walk with you through happiness and heartache.

1. When Life is Good

When things are going smoothly in life and days are full of joy, what better person to celebrate with? Seeing my husband smile and hearing his laugh make me so happy. I love sharing good news with him and reminiscing on happy moments together. Knowing someone deeply enough to feel their joy is a gift.

2. When Life is Difficult

This season is when it hits the hardest and matters the most, who you have in your life. When days are long and challenging, when heartbreaking situations arise, when fear and anxiety sink in, you need someone who is going to be there to support you through it all.

You need a friend who understands and can give grace when you react from emotion; someone who will listen and process the difficult reality of the situation with you. When your spouse can sit and cry with you and hold your hand as you move forward, it makes whatever pain and grief you are facing feel a little bit lighter.

3. When Life is Chaotic

Life can feel like a whirlwind at times, as if it’s moving a million miles an hour. Between kids’ sports schedules, holidays, birthdays, church activities, etc., we pack our schedules so full sometimes, we barely allow for any down time between events. It’s times like this when we have to be intentional in our relationships, or they can easily fall to the wayside.

In these seasons, it’s easy for us to pass each other by during the day without truly connecting. Yet, communication and connection within the chaos is so important. Taking a moment to slow down and check in with someone you deeply care about when you know they’re exhausted and stretched thin makes all the difference.

4. When Life is Ordinary

Ordinary days fill up the majority of our life. We usually fall into routine and go about our days like normal, without too many drastic events happening. While I’m thankful for the ordinary days, sometimes they can start to feel mundane or boring. This is when I’m so grateful I have my best friend by my side.

It helps that our “normal” days are pretty dang good. Waking up next to a man I love, raising our kids to know Jesus and surrounding them with a loving and genuine church community, enjoying time together as a family, etc… this everyday life I so often take for granted, is one my younger self always dreamed of!

Sharing the ordinary day-to-day moments with my husband is one of my favorite things in life. We’re able to laugh together, and appreciate the simple joys – the beautiful sunsets, the off-handed and hilarious comments our 4 year old makes, the sound of our kids getting along and building memories together, etc.

These are the little moments that mean so much when you have your best friend by your side to share them with.

About Tori Carpenter

Tori is a creative freelance writer and mom of 3, who craves a simple life, full of Jesus, board games, and endless cups of coffee. She desires to relate and connect with others through her writing. She believes in the importance of encouraging one another in our faith, as we seek Jesus first in a self-first world. You can read more about the author here.

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