Love must begin with respect.

Two people cannot move forward merely tolerating each other’s differences and looking down on each other as ignorant idiots who can’t see past the noses on your faces. No relationship can survive that. Neither can a country.

There must be mutual respect for the genuine value that others bring to the table and a willingness to lay aside differences for greater causes and callings, including giving our children an emotionally safe environment to grow up in where they see the adults in their lives show mutual respect and kindness toward each other and them.

That is the only soil that love can grow in.