At the core of every healthy marriage is a strong friendship. Sometimes, we can get so focused on the other aspects of the marriage relationship that we forget that our spouse should be our "Best Friend" too! Investing in your friendship with your spouse is one of the most important and most practical ways to invest into your marriage.

Below are the six traits of true friendship. Make it a priority to grow in each of these areas and your marriage will grow stronger. You can also apply these same principles to all of your other friendships and those will grow as well.

1. Friends Forgive

Friends don't bring up old dirt and gossip about each other. They forgive and seek forgiveness with transparency and humility. There can be no grudges for a relationship to thrive.

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends." Proverbs 17:9

2. Friends love unconditionally!

They are there for you when you need them most, not just when it's convenient. A real friend is committed to you regardless of life's circumstances.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." Proverbs 17:17

3. Friends have your back!

Loyalty is vital to friendship. There's no such thing as a "frenemy". Someone once said, "A friend will bail you out of jail, but a "real friend" would have been arrested with you!"

"There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother."

Proverbs 18:24

4. Friends tell you the truth

Even when it's hard to hear, friends will speak the truth in love. There is nothing more toxic to a relationship than dishonestly.

"An honest answer is a sign of true friendship."Proverbs 24:26

5. Friends make each other better!

A true friend will sharpen you and make you a better person by their positive influence and encouragement in your life.

"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." Proverbs 27:17

6. Friends communicate openly

Open, honest and authentic communication will keep a relationship going strong. Make the effort to communicate regularly. Communication in a relationship is like breathing...it must be done consistently to stay alive and healthy.

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

John 14:15

This articles was originally published on Patheos. It has been republished here with permission.