Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Two years ago, I sat at a great big table in Nicaragua with my thirty-five squadmates. Last year, I sat around a much smaller table with my own family at home. This year, I gathered with teammates and new friends at the table of a missionary family here in Ecuador. As I thought about traditions and all the tables I have sat at, I remembered a story worth sharing. About a month ago, I met a young boy named Manuel. Like I’ve done so many times back home, I sat down to eat at a restaurant with some friends. It was like patio seating, so one side was open to the street. Unlike home, however, people would walk right up to the tables and beg. That’s when Manuel came in. He looked like he was only ten years old and asked if he could shine our shoes to get money for lunch. We were all wearing sandals, so we kindly told him no. As he walked away, we sat silently for a minute—the kind of silence that told us we were thinking the same thing and feeling the same heartstring tugs. It’s hard to know when to hand out money, but it’s never hard to know when to love, because we should love all the time. So we quickly dished some food from each of our plates onto a fourth plate, and I walked across the street. I asked him his name and said, “Tienes hambre?” (Are you hungry?) When he answered, “Sí” (yes), I smiled and said, “Quires comer con nosotros en el restaurante?” (Do you want to eat with us in the restaurant?) and pointed to our table. He smiled a surprised yet fully grateful yes and nodded. So our new friend walked back into the restaurant—not to shine shoes but to sit down at the table with us. We all ate chicken fingers together, did our best to talk to him, and smiled and laughed a lot. We learned his story… that of a young boy whose mother had died and whose dad was in jail, leaving him and a younger sister with their aunt. He was trying to make money to buy new shoes so he could stay in school. He told us he liked school, and we told him why school is so important. He told us his dreams and hobbies. He talked about whatever he wanted because people cared to listen. We gave him a chance to put “work” to the side and simply be a kid for a while. And then we asked him if he knew Jesus. He smiled, nodded, and went on to tell us everything he knew about Him… that He’s really nice and died to take away his sins and that no matter how bad things at home got, his friend Jesus was there with him. We asked if he knew how much Jesus loves him. He thought for a minute and then said yes. His sister doesn’t know Jesus, but Manuel is now confident that he can teach her. It’s really hard to explain the feeling of this, but it was like eating lunch with a little cousin, hearing about his life, and encouraging him—only it was a stranger with no parents who perhaps needed this love even more. We thanked him for hanging out with us, high-fived him goodbye, and parted ways. I haven’t seen him since, but I pray that the life we spoke took root in his heart and changed something for him.
This encounter wasn’t about the food he ate or the money we gave him… it was about the connection. The connection that made a little boy feel seen and that spoke love and hope into his life. Maybe because of that day, he went to bed less hungry. Maybe because of that day, he bought some shoes and got to continue school. But my greatest hope is that because of that day, he encountered God’s heart and truly believes he’s worth loving. Because these are the things that last when the food is gone and his new shoes wear out. I’ve been learning how valuable the table is, how meaningful gatherings around it can be. I think it’s one of the places where community feels the most complete, like Jesus intended it when He shared His last meal with the disciples. That’s the way it felt with Manuel, and I think this might be why I like Thanksgiving so much.
I wanted to post this blog this morning and ask, “As you gather around the table today with people you love, what will your focus be? Will it be the food and the bellyache after, or the people sitting beside you? If there was no Thanksgiving feast, would you still be thankful?” But we cooked so many mashed potatoes that I ran out of time. However, I believe that reflections are powerful too, so I will ask you this: “What was your focus today? Did you see past the food and the football to truly notice the people sitting beside you and take the time to show a deep gratitude that they’re in your life?” If not, here’s an encouraging thing… you didn’t miss your chance. I’ve realized that this idea is so much bigger than Thanksgiving Day alone. Every day gives us opportunities to not let the things in our lives distract us from the people, chances to stop for those we might pass by and to instead acknowledge them and put some love into their life. Shouldn’t every day be Thanksgiving? Because every day we can be thankful, and every day we can give. One small conversation with someone can change a life as I pray it did for Manuel. It certainly changed mine… because connections like this put the heart in our heartbeat and give meaning to our lives. And I pray that as you slow down to truly connect with the people in your life, the same will be true for you. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
