Always Thanksgiving
Memories of enjoying delicious food and sharing a lively conversation at Thanksgiving time bring me smiles and happiness. A huge turkey and ham were usually placed at the center of the table. Side dishes of green beans, collards, corn pudding, sweet potato casserole, and warm rolls brought delightful scents to every room in the house. As a young girl, I wanted every day to always be Thanksgiving.
Over the years, the size of my family has increased due to marriages and decreased due to the deaths of loved ones. When I was a youngster, my parents sometimes hosted the holiday meal at our house, and other times, we visited family and they prepared the meal to share.
Due to the number of people gathering, there was a table for the adults and a table for the kids. Dishes filled to the brim were placed on the adult table. The kids would take their plates and ask for the food they wanted. If we wanted seconds of any food, we carried our plate back to the adult table and asked politely for more.
I looked forward to those special times with family and friends. There is something special about praying before a meal and then, eating, laughing, and sharing life stories. Sometimes the voices were so loud with enthusiasm that we had to pause and wait for the quiet. Wonderful memories.
When my husband and I were married in 1979, the Thanksgiving table began to change. Relatives moved to other areas in the country and there were fewer chairs needed at the table. The tradition of gathering continued for those who were able to attend.
Some Thanksgiving days, my husband and I began to volunteer at local shelters. On those days when we would not be sharing a meal with family, we chose to share time with strangers and show them the love of God.
On those special Thanksgiving afternoons, we stood at the door of a shelter and greeted people as they entered the doors of the building. “Hello. Welcome. Please come in. Have a seat. May I bring you a plate of food? What would you like to drink?”
The conversation continued as each person found a comfortable seat and waited to be served.
Several folks asked if they could help serve. Those men and women were there to have a meal and yet, they wanted to show kindness to others.
The lunch line soon slowed and one last family arrived for a Thanksgiving meal.
As my husband and I stood waiting to serve, we smiled. Serving others at Thanksgiving and at any time can bless everyone.
We’ll be ready for the next opportunity to share God’s love.
Have you volunteered at a shelter? How can you lead people to know God and His love?
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalms 136:1 NIV)
Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving,
Melissa Henderson
We used to volunteer at one of the shelters with our kids at Thanksgiving. We will do it again once our grandchildren are old enough to participate in this blessing. Thank you Melissa
Volunteering is a wonderful way to show the love of God. Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
You have wonderful generations of tradition and togetherness, Melissa. I love it. And I especially love how you are able to share the love of God at the shelter. I haven’t had that type of opportunity myself, but I’m sure it will be in our future in some way. Everybody matters and everybody can enjoy the love of God.
Thank you Stephen. Your other comment has appeared. 🙂 I love how God gives us different opportunities and ways to show His love. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Helping others is important. Thanks for encouraging us to serve.
Thank you Nancy. Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
Love the serving aspect of this article. When my husband was a church pastor, my daughter and I always tried to find someone at our church for Easter and Thanksgiving to invite to the holiday meal who didn’t have anywhere else to go. And my work just donated meal items to a homeless ministry that feeds hundreds on both both holidays and they have churches and people who always volunteer to cook and serve those days. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you Karen. Serving others helps us show the love of God. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
Hi Melissa. I don’t see my comment here so I’m writing a new one. It was good reading about your traditions and how you enjoy your family through the generations. I especially like hearing about how you currently spend your Thanksgivings helping others and showing them the love of God. God bless you as you minister this Thanksgiving.
Such a beautiful message of memories and encouragement to serve others. Sometimes when our family circumstances change, God is opening new doors we could not have imagined. Thank you for sharing your story of serving. What a wonderful way to extend God’s love to others. May God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving!
Thank you Melissa. I love how God opens doors so we can share His love. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! 🙂
Volunteering at a shelter is something I’ve always wanted to do on Thanksgiving. It sounds like a blessing! I wish you a wonderful day brimming with happiness.
Thank you Jessica. Volunteering can bless everyone. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂