A Salute to Old Age

This Christmas I took a picture of my mother with our cat, Calypso, on her lap. The contrast of her beautiful, wrinkly old hands and the silky young cat are striking, as well as the contrast between lights and darks.  But more than the visual contrasts, it makes me think of youth and old age, and how thankful I am for my aging parents.  We had a lovely Christmas together.  It was made all the sweeter because I don't know how many more Christmases we will have with them.  These are the hands that loved and cared for me all my life.  These are the hands that gave me a beautiful childhood.  These are the hands that gave me a home filled with solid Christian values.  Now it's my turn.  Now I will use my hands for them.