Yay, for Thanksgiving Week! When I was teaching this was a favorite week because we were off of school. It was such a great time to be with loved ones around the table eating turkey with all the trimmings and then get it gear for Christmas. One of the perks I definitely miss from the world of education.
But regardless, yay that this week has arrived and it’s a short one on the work calendar. I hope this post finds you gearing up to embrace all of the holiday with its moments of overeating while enjoying people. The hubby and I will be helping to serve lunch for many people in our community who either have no place to go or do not have the resources to put on such a lavish dinner that Thanksgiving practically demands to be served up. I hope in those few hours of serving I don’t miss out on opportunities to meet people. I hope I don’t miss out on moments to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who have never experienced his love. I hope my eyes and heart are engaged and ready to serve those here in my little city.
I say hope because so many times I miss opportunities. I’ve become a little blind to the world around me. Not too long ago I set out on mission to meet strangers and make them my friends. I remember vividly days of sharing my table at a local coffee shop with a young girl as I listened to her story for several hours. We left the coffee shop friends of sorts. I gave her a ride home and we hung out several other times. I used to meet lots of people like this but then I stopped seeing people. I sorta stopped being intentional in that regard. I stopped seeing opportunities to serve and bless others.
My hubby, nope, he’s not like me in that regard. He sees EVERYTHING. Case in point. On Friday we met at home after work and chatted before we got to the topic of dinner. Neither one of us was hungry but I definitely wanted coffee. Just the idea that it’s Fall according to the calendar and I’m all over coffee 24/7. I mentioned wanting a baguette from Panera that I could toast and eat while I drank coffee. That is a perfect meal for me by the way. So in the truck and off we went and the next thing I knew we were parked and inside of Panera. We exited a few minutes later with the baguette in hand. Next stop, was home where the hubby would brew some Thanksgiving blend from Starbucks and I’d pop the bread in the toaster. Yum! I couldn’t wait to be home.
But then…as usual I was dreaming of perfect a “dinner” when I noticed some commotion in the road. Next thing I knew we were pulling over and my hubby jumped out of the truck. There he was pushing a mini-van while a young woman was getting into the back of our truck. Ambrosia and her husband {who wasn’t feeling well} had made a short trip to Dollar General to pick up some Pepto for his sick tummy. Their mini-van had stalled in the middle of the road and the two of them in flip-flops were desperately trying to push it out of traffic. What happened next? My hubby did what he does best {besides seeing everything} he meets the need. He tied the mini-van with tow strap and we proceeded to tow these people home.
Ambroisa was a young mom of three, twins + one. Dad worked two jobs to support his family. These are people who will show up on Thanksgiving Day for a meal because that dinner is much too expensive to put on the table. My hope is that I see these people and others that day. I know they are seen. I know they are loved. I know they welcomed. I hope my hands and feet will resemble the One who does all the seeing, loving and welcoming.
Y’all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Be blessed! ~ Carrie
Where I’m linking up.
