Every Thanksgiving, Dawn and Kevin...
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Every Thanksgiving, Dawn and Kevin will invite people from their church or community to share Thanksgiving dinner with them. They invited a woman from church whose husband died earlier in the year to spend the day with them. It would be her first Thanksgiving alone in many years. The thought of Thelma sitting at home all alone on Thanksgiving was all the motivation Dawn needed to include her in their family's celebration. Thelma could hardly believe that she was invited to their home on Thanksgiving.
Another year Kevin invited a young man he met at work, who was going through a painful divorce. His children would celebrate Thanksgiving with their mother and her family, leaving Ron all alone for the holiday. Ron appreciated being with Dawn, Kevin, and their children for the afternoon.
Last year Dawn invited a couple of exchange students from the local college to their home. She met them at church and knew they would not be returning to their native country for Thanksgiving break. All the other students would return home, the dorm would be closed for a couple of days, and they had no where to go. Dawn and Kevin opened their home to the girls who slept in the family room. They had wonderful conversations about different customs in their country. It was a great learning opportunity for Dawn and Kevin's children. Near the end of the semester, Kevin received a long-distance phone call from one of the girl's fathers, thanking him for opening their home for his daughter.
Dawn was asked why she invites others to her home on Thanksgiving. She replied that she was shown kindness from others throughout her life and wanted to welcome those who had nowhere to spend the holiday or who would be alone to her home. "I have been so blessed," Dawn replied, "and would want someone to welcome me if I were in that situation."
The writer of Deuteronomy reminded the people of God who brought them safely out of Egypt to a land flowing with milk and honey. "Do not say to yourself, 'My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.' "
Thanksgiving is a time when we give thanks to God for our many blessings realizing that all blessings come from God.
Another year Kevin invited a young man he met at work, who was going through a painful divorce. His children would celebrate Thanksgiving with their mother and her family, leaving Ron all alone for the holiday. Ron appreciated being with Dawn, Kevin, and their children for the afternoon.
Last year Dawn invited a couple of exchange students from the local college to their home. She met them at church and knew they would not be returning to their native country for Thanksgiving break. All the other students would return home, the dorm would be closed for a couple of days, and they had no where to go. Dawn and Kevin opened their home to the girls who slept in the family room. They had wonderful conversations about different customs in their country. It was a great learning opportunity for Dawn and Kevin's children. Near the end of the semester, Kevin received a long-distance phone call from one of the girl's fathers, thanking him for opening their home for his daughter.
Dawn was asked why she invites others to her home on Thanksgiving. She replied that she was shown kindness from others throughout her life and wanted to welcome those who had nowhere to spend the holiday or who would be alone to her home. "I have been so blessed," Dawn replied, "and would want someone to welcome me if I were in that situation."
The writer of Deuteronomy reminded the people of God who brought them safely out of Egypt to a land flowing with milk and honey. "Do not say to yourself, 'My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.' "
Thanksgiving is a time when we give thanks to God for our many blessings realizing that all blessings come from God.
