Donna stood before the mirror and frowned. Her once lustrous brown hair was streaked with gray, and wrinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes. It seemed only yesterday she was a young mother. But more and more these days, she was looking her age.

She applied concealer and covered the wrinkles the best she could. She’d tried dyeing her hair once, but the chemicals had irritated her skin so badly, it wasn’t an option. Better to have gray hair than a reddened and flaky scalp.

She ran a brush through her traitorous hair and headed out to work. She’d barely made it to her desk when a voice carried from behind her.

“Today’s the big day.”

Donna turned to Rafael. “The big day for what?”

“They’re rolling out the new computer system. This should make our work much more efficient.”

“That’s great news.” Donna filled her coffee mug and made her way to her desk. When she logged onto her computer, sure enough, the new update was present. She clicked on her email and read the instructions for the new system once, twice, three times. Finally, it started to make sense. By lunchtime, she’d almost figured out how to use a few of the new features. At this rate, she’d get her usual day’s work done in about a week. So much for technology. She gave up and headed to the lunchroom.

Rafael and Tiffany stood in line, and Donna slid in behind them. “How are you guys doing with the new computer system?”

Rafael grinned. “It’s fantastic, isn’t it? I love all the new features.”

“I know, right?” Tiffany chimed in. “It’s so much more efficient.”

Donna glanced from one to the other. “I guess it will be eventually. Once I figure out how to use it.”

Rafael pulled out his phone. “Didn’t you read the email? It tells you exactly how to install it.”

Donna’s cheeks heated. Rafael and Tiffany were half her age. She was too old, too dumb to learn the new system so quickly. “Yeah, I saw it. It’s a great system.” She hurried to the grab-and-go counter and selected a pre-packaged salad, which she took back to her desk. She’d need to work through lunch to make up for the lost time this morning.

She opened the dressing packet and squeezed it on her salad, followed by a generous sprinkling of croutons. Halfway through the salad, she bit down wrong on a crouton and heard a crack. No, no no. Her tooth. Uggh. What an awful day. She set her salad aside and made a quick call to the dentist.

“You’re in luck. We had a cancellation this afternoon. Can you be here by 4:30?”

“I’m not sure cracking a tooth counts as good luck, but yes, I can be there by 4:30.” At least she wouldn’t need to worry about the tooth for very long.

By the time Donna got in the car to drive home, a new gold crown on her tooth, discouragement filled her heart. Her physical appearance, her ability to deal with the new computer program, and her weakened teeth all contributed to doubts about her self-worth. Getting older was no picnic.

Her cell phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. Laura. How nice. She connected the call. “Hi honey. How are you?”

“I’m good, Mom, but I was hoping you could do me a favor. I know it’s last minute, but could you watch Peyton tonight?”

Donna brightened. Time with her six-year-old granddaughter was just the medicine her old heart needed. “Of course. Did something come up?”

Laura’s voice was full of life. “It did. Rob’s company had hockey tickets for tonight, and Rob gets to use them. We’ll have box seats. Thanks so much, Mom. We haven’t been out together in a while, and this will be a lot of fun.”

“I’m happy to help. I’m on my way home now, so I should be home in thirty minutes.”

“Perfect. See you soon!”

Donna pulled into the driveway a minute before Laura. Peyton bounded out of the car and squeezed Donna around the middle. “Mommy said I can stay up past my bedtime tonight!”

Donna grinned. “She did, did she?”

Laura exited the car. “We won’t stay for the whole game. It’s a school night, after all, but I don’t want to leave too early.”

“She can sleep here if that’s easier. I can drop her at your place in the morning.”

“Really, Mom? That wouldn’t be too much trouble?”

“Not at all. I’m happy to spend time with my best girl. Come on, Peyton. Let’s go sit on the porch swing.”

“OK. Bye Mommy!” Peyton grabbed Donna’s hand and pulled her over to the swing. As they rocked back and forth in the swing, Peyton studied Donna, an intent expression on her face.

“What is it?”

Peyton cocked her head. “You must be so rich, Grandma.”

“Why do you say that?”

“You have silver growing out of your hair.”

Laughter bubbled up inside Donna. Oh, to have the perspective of a child. She didn’t have gray hair. No, she had sparkly, special silver hair. “That’s right Peyton. I have special silver hair. You have to live a long time to get hair like mine.”

Peyton’s eyes grew round. “You’re so lucky. Your silver hair is so pretty. Mine is just plain brown.”

Inspiration struck. “Do you know what else I have?” Donna opened her mouth wide and pointed to her new crown. “I have a gold tooth!

Matthew 18:3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

God, sometimes life is all about perspective. You tell us to have faith like children, but there are other ways we could benefit by being childlike. Help restore us to the wonder of our childhood, where silver hair and gold teeth are something to be admired rather than lamented. Thank you for the children in our lives who are such a blessing to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.