An elderly lady is travelling by train from Lausanne to Lyon. Shortly before the Swiss border she turns to her neighbour, a priest: – If you see this lovely, brand new

The priest raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Estranged? That must have been difficult,” he commented softly, recognizing the weight of her words.

“Yes,” she sighed, her eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and resolve. “You see, Isabelle and I had a falling out over some family matters. She felt that I was too old-fashioned and couldn’t understand her modern ways. I, in turn, thought she was too reckless and carefree. We stopped speaking, and it broke my heart.”

As the train glided through picturesque landscapes, the elderly lady continued her story, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. “It was my husband, Charles, God rest his soul, who always believed that family ties should never be severed, no matter the disagreements. He used to say, ‘Love is stronger than pride, my dear.’ His words stayed with me.”