I am still filled with gratitude toward those friends from Fede e Luce who stepped in for us parents and cared for our son Francesco for four days. He is not an easy or naturally lovable boy. Here's what happened: months ago, I learned that in May there would be a national Fede e Luce retreat at Triuggio with Jean Vanier present. I longed to attend—to find some rest and peace among those friends. But who would care for Francesco? Reluctantly, as always, I resigned myself to missing it. Then, with such generosity and spontaneity, a small group of six friends organized a mini-vacation (not for themselves) at a house in Broni, bringing my son along. Even our closest family members wouldn't have made such a gesture of love. I enjoyed that freedom fully, and my gratitude knows no bounds. And I want to say this to other mothers like me, who live with a difficult reality and are afraid to leave their children: Francesco behaved better with these friends than he usually does with us, and he came home more at peace.
- E.S., 1990
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