It has always been a tradition in my family to extend an open invitation for Thanksgiving dinner. We invite our family and friends to join us and ask them to invite someone as well. We let them know that if they have a friend, colleague, or neighbor who does not have a place to go for dinner to invite them to come along to our house.

When the family was smaller and the numbers were fewer we would set the table with the good China. We adorned the table with a holiday tablecloth, cloth napkins, candles, and a centerpiece to match; it would have made Martha Stewart proud. We have long since traded in the elegant décor for the simplicity of paper plates and card tables to accommodate the growing number of people who come.

Now this also creates a chefs nightmare. How many people do we cook for? We used to stress over the problems that an open invitation creates but we have found that there is always plenty of food to go around and plenty of leftovers to savor for the week to follow. We always cook two turkeys; one is roasted traditionally and the other is deep-fried. We prepare the basics: mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberries, tossed salad, a veggie tray, homemade dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie. Those who are invited always bring something to share. Some bring drinks while others bring their favorite side dish. Our guests are always gracious and the food is always tasty.

When the food line is ready to begin; we hold hands as we form one big circle around the island in our kitchen and give thanks to the One who made it all possible. We offer each person an opportunity to mention what he or she is thankful for. And every year there is at least one person who mentions that they would have had to celebrate the holiday alone had they not been invited to our home. We are very thankful that we have a home large enough to accommodate all of our guests, health to continue to cook the meal, and family and friends to share it with. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.

Written by Brenda Bates – November 2005

Prayer to our Father:

Gracious and glorious Father, thank You for the people who You continue to place in our path. Without You the holiday would not be complete. It is with the love You freely provide each one of us that we are able to share hospitality, friendship and kindness. Father this Thanksgiving we pray for the soldiers who protect our country and for the soldiers that continue to fight terrorism both on foreign and native soil regardless of the country they call home. Please watch over them during the holiday season so that the holidays in the future can be shared with their families free from fear and attack and in a much safer world. Father we also pray for our brothers and sisters who do not have family and for those who don’t have a place to call home. We pray for those who don’t have the money to afford food and are too proud to admit that they need our help. Help us Lord to reach out to others as You did in the Bible; as You continue to even today. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Scripture:

[You] are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.
1 Timothy 6:18

My Thoughts:
In our world today, hunger should not be a physical pain from lack of food, but a spiritual hunger to be satisfied only through the Word of God.

Who do think that I am?