"I read the latest issue of Ombre e Luci in one sitting. I was struck by how many different ways there are to create a family home..."; "Mariangela is right! We can't expect everything from the State. Let's all start moving together as one large family..."
Using Our Talents
I was so glad to read the latest issue and see that at last there are many parents and many people of goodwill beginning to tackle this big challenge: creating family homes for our children's future!
Mariangela is right! We can't expect everything from the State.
Let's all start moving together as one large family, because that's what we are! This brings to mind the parable of the unfaithful servant. The master, before he left, gave each of his servants coins to keep safe, and each one tried to make that money grow, so the master would collect his profit when he returned. But one buried the coins out of fear of losing them. Maybe many of us parents do the same thing! We set aside money for our children's future and leave it in bank accounts, even though we know that almost none of them will be able to manage it alone tomorrow. So why don't we start putting together all our resources, our ideas, our plans, all our talents—since the Lord has given gifts to each of us?
I'm certain, from what I've read in this magazine, that together we can do great things! Let us be inspired by goodwill, openness, love, and faith. Only then, when the Lord calls us, can we rest knowing that our children will continue to live surrounded by affection and human warmth—the very things other institutions cannot provide.
A Mother
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Thank You
I'm the mother of a 17-year-old girl who has epilepsy and severe vision problems, and I owe everything I know and do today to Daniela.
For many years I've been trying to help other parents overcome their difficulties, doubts, and fears—and I'm very successful at it.
I often wanted to send you the names of families who might benefit from your simple yet so rich magazine, and I'm finally doing so today...
Gertrude Calenzani
(Director of the Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities, Bolzano)
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We Need to Act
I read the latest issue of Ombre e Luci in one sitting.
I was captivated by the many different ways people can create a family home.
Thank you for presenting such varied and inspiring proposals so well.
Two things stand out to me:
- Every "solution" that's truly going to work must have Christ at its center.
- It's we parents who must act, who must actively seek proper solutions, who must connect with other parents—because who knows better than we do what our children really need?
I hope you'll continue your invaluable work of research, information, and connection for us parents with the same enthusiasm and courage.
Steven's Mother
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You Cannot Do Anything Without My Help
Family homes! Let's talk about them more: we want them to be beautiful, welcoming, and full of friends who will embrace our children—those with serious physical or emotional difficulties—when the Lord calls us home.
I've read the thoughts, ideas, projects, and many "I wish I could's" from other parents. All of it comes from one source: profound love for our children.
This is good, but it's not enough. First comes prayer, I believe: "Without my help, you can do nothing," says the Lord. So it's right to pray that he inspire good souls with real means to offer a small house or cottage for this longed-for project—to make this dream real: family homes run and managed by wise and good people who will welcome our children as true family, when their own is gone and no one else can care for them.
Then, after prayer, comes personal commitment to help, according to our abilities, those who have already rolled up their sleeves with genuine Christian charity to achieve this goal.
A Mother