"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." ~ 1 Chronicles 16:34
It was the day before Thanksgiving
the first one they’d be spending without their father, who’d left the family for
another woman months before. She hadn't planned a big meal because both kids were
sick with the flu.
It was a cool, gray day; a light rain fell. Kayla grew weary
trying to care for each child. She needed some medicine for Maya and Jaden. She
checked her purse. All she found was some loose singles that had to last until
the end of the month.
A knock at the front door broke her moment of despair.
A woman she knew from their church handed Kayla an envelope.
“We think of you and the kids often,” she said, “and know that things have been
difficult since Mason left.” She added, “We love you!” before turning and
walking away.
Kayla opened the envelope and found a grocery gift
certificate inside worth $50. So humbled by the generous gift, she broke down
and sobbed.
At the grocery check-out counter, she’d picked up some
medicine and about $9.00 worth of groceries. The cashier looked at the gift
certificate, then turned away for what seemed like a long time. Kayla thought
something might be wrong.
“No!” the mother of two replied.
The cashier looked into Kayla’s
embarrassed expression and said, “Go back into the store and buy a turkey, and
anything else you need for a Thanksgiving dinner.”
Dumbfounded and humbled, Kayla
asked: “Are you sure?”
“Yes! Get whatever you want. And
get plenty of Gatorade for the kids.”
Kayla wheeled her shopping cart
filled with a fresh turkey, a few yams, drinks for the children, and an apple
pie up to the same cashier as before. As
Kayla placed her groceries on the counter, the cashier with a gentle smile and
kind eyes began to speak.
“This morning I prayed that I
could help someone today” She pulled enough cash from her purse to pay for all
the groceries and handed Kayla the change. “God bless you, and your children.
Happy Thanksgiving!”
Kayla walked to her car,
overwhelmed by that stranger’s love, she realized that God loves her family
too, and showed His love through the strangers from her church and the grocery
store. They dined on the Lord’s bounty and their community’s love. Their hearts
swelled with thanks for the meal, the kindness of strangers, and the loving
bonds shared with family.
Thanksgiving can be a most wonderful
time when we sow our empathy for one another and to recall what giving is truly
about.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the pleasure
of gathering together for this occasion.
We give thanks for this food prepared by loving hands. As we eat, we
pray for health and strength to carry on and try to live as You would have us.
Amen
