Love... and Acceptance

My thought for today (which also happens to be my wedding anniversary): We look for LOVE and LOYALTY in marriage (and so we should!)... But what keeps a marriage strong is true ACCEPTANCE:

"Husband and wife characteristically accept each other as they are. Their faith in each other's regard for them is not based on their own worth or right, but on the other's acceptance of them just as they are. It is hard to think of any other relationship (except perhaps within a religious community) where acceptance could be so unreserved, so productive of mutual health and growth." (From Seeking God by Esther de Waal, p. 126)

(I love the idea that acceptance leads - not to stagnation - but to GROWTH!)