Instead of shopping today

Our family went to the park instead of the mall on Saturday. I was a little surprised that our teenagers all agreed but at least the park is free and they are old enough to buy presents for everyone our of their own money this year. We had pizzas and played people watching. I had never noticed this statue before. Those hands have been grasped together in winter and summer, good weather and bad, for decades. They are starting to show signs of wear. They have become my prayer with five days to Christmas at the end of a year that has decided to give only subtle gifts. May the bumps and callouses on our hands tell the truth about the way we have loved. May we hold onto only what matters. May we always, as the books of etiquette used to say, know where to put our hands.