Indeed, "understanding and acceptance" are essential foundations not just at a "mature stage" but from the start.

To me, this brief piece is about empathy, not "love" and empathy is what is at the essence of all truly sound and strong relationships.

"Love" has become an over-used and relatively euphemistic term for all manner of relationships and no longer represents with definition a true and honest bond, in fact, far too often it represents precisely the opposite. The major cause for that, in my view, is that 'love' is selfish and far more about taking than giving, protection, (ie. dominance) rather than respect and equalty, and ownership rather than trust.