A strange sight drew my attention while I was driving on a welltraveled street. Fortunately, that day at that time, mine was the only car. I have seen ducks walk in a line, but had not seen grown cats walk single file until that day!
Right in front of me crossing the street were five cats. A calico led the way, followed by two black cats and two spotted ones. When they reached the other side of the street, one of the black cats broke formation and walked to the calico cat. The calico sat for a moment. The black cat proceeded to assume lead-cat position.
Several scenarios tickled my imagination and this one lingered: The calico was mama cat leading her litter safely across the dreaded street. When she got them across safely without incident, one of the older cats approached her and said, 'Mom, you must rest now while I lead the way. Ahead there may be dogs! I will fend them off' Then they resumed their trek to the store where an elderly gentleman with kind eyes and a kind heart, set out food and water daily for strays as he talked to children about how to be kind to animals and people.
With this in mind, I thought of how it is with some people, that when the parents become elderly, their children care for them. My own father was one of those 'sandwiched' family members. He not only cared for all of us children, but also his parents. It must have been difficult for him, but I never heard him complain.
I enjoyed visiting my grandparents who lived a few houses from us. Grandpa, wearing his old gray slouch hat, would set me on his knee and either sing or tell stories of his days as a cowboy. One such story was when he was on a cattle trail and put a rope around his bedroll at night, to keep snakes from crawling to him.
My father's example inspired one of my sisters to care for her mother-in-law Currently, one of my brothers is cared for by his oldest son. In this age, it is encouraging to think that some elderly parents are recipients of such devotion to family by their 'sandwiched' offspring. Of course, it is probably due to their own parents who emphasized the importance of family. I wonder if children today will grow up to be as loving with their aging parents.
For discussion with you family, why not talk about the importance of family. What people make up your family?