That I wake up next to someone every day who thinks I'm the greatest person in the world.

That I wake up to someone every day who IS the greatest person in the world.

That's what makes my relationship special.

Uh, Merry Christmas?

In one word "Honesty".

For me it's trust. I can go to my girlfriend with any problems, concerns, or issues and know that she is always going to lend a sympathetic ear, take me seriously, and help me in any way she can, and the same goes the other way. We trust each other to always be there, ready to help.

What the heck is a life partner? God created marriage for a man and a woman, he didn't create life partners to be separate from it.

Love. Trust. Hope.
Mutual respect for each others strengths and weaknesses and fears.
The sense... what I would name for me as a personal certainty... that the love shared between me and my partner is in some way connected to divine love.

Oh... right... I nearly forgot... a certain willingness to warm up their feet on one's back when both the feet and the bed are freezing. :)

Those are some of the things I see that makes the relationship/marriage/partnership I'm a part of special.

To me it's being able to go to those people for advise at any time in any place and always know that they'll be there to help.

Well, for me at any rate it is:

- being able to talk about the things which matter to me, which bother me
- listening to her day and thoughts and general chatter
- being cared for on days when I cannot get up
- letting ME do the cooking and never complaining even when I make something she cannot pronounce
- giggling together, laughing together
- looking at each other with raised eyebrow when there's something stupid, insane or inane on the TV
- making rude remarks to each other over the garbage on the TV
- caring

When the connection can still stay tied although the beliefs are different.
Someone who is always willing to call me so they can take the long-distance phone bill.
Someone who can still hold on even though it is often months between visits.
Someone who when you finally get to see them, the two days that you are together are what keep you alive through the next 75.

Dear ABC,
IMHO... not all marriages are partnerships, and not all partnerships are marriages. To me a partner is a person with whom one can share love, trust, security, hopes, and support in our life journeys. (In that sense, a person could have a partnership with friends and family members as well as significant others.) I feel incredibly special when my fiance refers to me as their partner - to me it means "we're in this together". Too often, marriage is not a place people find love/security/support... although it would be great if it was always like that, and i do believe that God intended it to be like that.

ABC --

If God created marriage then why didn't cave people get married?

Certainly they "mated" but marriage?!

1) A relationship is special when the other person is willing to put the other person first despite the personal consequences not in spite -- ie cold feet!

2) The other person challenges you to be a better person even when you aren't interested in doing so.

3) They love and encourage you and know when not to be too honest -- lol!

4) They know when to hug you and not say anthing at all.

i think a relationship is special when your companion can make you smile by just walking into the room. or when you get butterflies by just holding their hand, even if youve been together so long that this is just a natural thing. When you'd do anything for someone and they'd do anything for you, just to see you happy, that's when it's special.

In terms of romantic relationships, a special relationship to me would be someone whom I consider both my best friend and my s/o. Romantic relationships that have no base will crumble eventually.

In regards to friendship, mutual respect for the other's beliefs. And being able to share your tears and laughter. And when you tell them something personal, trusting them not to spread it around or something. Someone you can depend on in the worst of times.

As for relationships with authority figured, when there is an understanding and empathy.