Thanksgiving Dinner

"It was the day before Thanksgiving--the first one my three children and I would be spending without their father, who had left several months before. Now the two older children were very sick with the flu, and the eldest had just been prescribed bed rest for a week.

It was a cool, gray day outside, and a light rain was falling. I grew wearier as I scurried around, trying to care for each child: thermometers, juice, diapers. And I was fast running out of liquids for the children. But when I checked my purse, all I found was about $2.50--and this was supposed to last me until the end of the month. That's when I heard the phone ring.

It was the secretary from our former church, and she told me that they had been thinking about us and had something to give us from the congregation. I told her that I was going out to pick up some more juice and soup for the children, and I would drop by the church on my way to the market.

I arrived at the church just before lunch. The church secretary met me at the door and handed me a special gift envelope. 'We think of you and the kids often,' she said, 'and you are in our hearts and prayers. We love you.' When I opened the envelope, I found two grocery certificates inside. Each was worth $20. I was so touched and moved, I broke down and cried.

'Thank you very much,' I said, as we hugged each other. 'Please give our love and thanks to the church.' Then I drove to a store near our home and purchased some much-needed items for the children.

At the check-out counter I had a little over $14.00 worth of groceries, and I handed the cashier one of the gift certificates. She took it, then turned her back for what seemed like a very long time. I thought something might be wrong. Finally I said, 'This gift certificate is a real blessing. Our former church gave it to our family, knowing I'm a single parent trying to make ends meet.'

The cashier then turned around, with tears in her loving eyes, and replied, 'Honey, that's wonderful! Do you have a turkey?'

'No. It's okay because my children are sick anyway.'

She then asked, 'Do you have anything else for Thanksgiving dinner?'

Again I replied, 'No.'

After handing me the change from the certificate, she looked at my face and said, 'Honey, I can't tell you exactly why right now, but I want you to go back into the store and buy a turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie or anything else you need for a Thanksgiving dinner.'

I was shocked, and humbled to tears. 'Are you sure?' I asked.

'Yes! Get whatever you want. And get some Gatorade for the kids.'

I felt awkward as I went back to do more shopping, but I selected a fresh turkey, a few yams and potatoes, and some juices for the children. Then I wheeled the shopping cart up to the same cashier as before. As I placed my groceries on the counter, she looked at me once more with giant tears in her kind eyes and began to speak.

'Now I can tell you. This morning I prayed that I could help someone today, and you walked through my line.' She reached under the counter for her purse and took out a $20 bill. She paid for my groceries and then handed me the change. Once more I was moved to tears.

The sweet cashier then said, 'I am a Christian. Here is my phone number if you ever need anything.' She then took my head in her hands, kissed my cheek and said, 'God bless you, honey.'

As I walked to my car, I was overwhelmed by this stranger's love and by the realization that God loves my family too, and shows us his love through this stranger's and my church's kind deeds.

The children were supposed to have spent Thanksgiving with their father that year, but because of the flu they were home with me, for a very special Thanksgiving Day. They were feeling better, and we all ate the goodness of the Lord's bounty--and our community's love. Our hearts were truly filled with thanks."

Source: Andrea Nannette Mejia- in "Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul." 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit

Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul -- Conversation Starters to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit