My daughter has a special friend.  He was abused by his father to a point that his father was incarcerated for his deeds.  The courts have denied any contact with him.  His mother, newly remarried with a new baby, has chosen to focus on her new "family" and has thrown her son out at the age of 16 to fend for himself. 

I found out about the situation and invited him into our home for as long as he needs to and spoke with both him and her for several hours.  I told him that I love him for all the wonderful things he does and for how he treats my daughter.  I praised him for his strength and wisdom, at such an early age, and I brag about him to others.  This tiny act of kindness gave him the self confidence to believe in himself, to feel good about himself, and to make positive plans to get his life in order.  Although he will be leaving our home shortly to live with his grandmother in Detroit, he will be living in our hearts forever.