Let's Try Doing Thanksgiving a Bit Differently

Every year Thanksgiving in my parents home was the same ole thing -- my sister and I would deal with congested freeways and/or airports to get home to be with my parents, we'd help my mom cook these enormous meals consisting of the traditional southern staples (candied yams, macaroni and cheese that must have at least 5 cheeses, sometimes dirty rice if we can't get my Aunt whose specialty is this dish to bring it, various meats that must always include a Turkey and a "honey baked" ham amongst other foods). As is the case with most black folk, we'd prepare enough food to feed an army, gorge on this food until our bellys popped, and then allow the TV to watch us for the remainder of the evening. We always have a great time getting together, but feel so uncomfortably full after we'd eaten in one setting what we could have and should have eaten in seven.

A few years ago, we were at church on Thanksgiving Day morning and the minister suggested that we try doing Thanksgiving a bit differently. He suggested that rather than eat until we could eat no more, we package our remaining dinner and share it with the homeless. That day changed how we now do Thanksgiving. We still prepare these elaborate meals, but rather than eating it all and having it for the remainder of the week, we put the leftovers in individual food containers, drive to areas frequented by homeless people, and give the food away. At minimum we'd serve the same number of homeless people that ate dinner at our table that day. So if 10 of us ate that day, we'd serve at least 10 homeless people. These people would be deeply grateful to receive these specially prepared meal. They would thanks us endlessly.

Let's Try Doing Thanksgiving a Bit Differently (Part 2)

What would be great is if we added a little group exercise to our day before our big meal. I'm trying to work this element into our day, and its going to take some time. In sharing our Thanksgiving dinner with homeless and hungry people, we are reminded of how truly blessed we are. We feel that we are actively demonstrating God's love for His people. (See Matthew 25:35 where Jesus talks about the final judgment). My parents were so moved by this experience that they've extended feeding the homeless to not just on Thanksgiving day, but now prepare meals for hungry people on a regular basis. It is more moving than going to a homeless shelter and serving people, because we are preparing the food in our kitchen and take it to them which takes a lot of thought as we prepare the food. We are being reminded in the process of so much -- our privilege, our blessings, and even our gluttonous behavior. I'm not saying everybody should do what has become a tradition in my family, but we all should implement something into our Thanksgiving day traditions to show our gratitude to God. Just a thought.