Last week at our weekly supper at church,  I served coffee, tea and hot chocolate to about one hundred and fifty  homeless and street involved people. I was not suprised that they said thank you, but rather how they said it. I knew they meant it all the way down to their toes.

Over that passed several years of working with these dear people, there are a few " thanksgiving" encounters that stand out in my memory.

 I remember one cold winter day, one guy came up, his feet were a mess. His boots were rotted by salt and the wet slushy snow of downtown Toronto streets. We told him we had a parish nurse who would care for his feet. While our wonderful nurse cared for his very sore feet, we went in searchof  new ( new to him) boots and brand new socks. When the guy came out with his new boots and socks he was ecstatic. He could not say thank you enough. I have never seen such joy and celebration over one pair of socks and boots in my life.

Another evening we had the privilege of handing out a few hand knit sweaters to some of the street involved friends we know well. One lady had been struggling with breast cancer. When I gave her this sweater, her eyes filled with tears. She felt like a million bucks. She knew that she mattered and was so thankful. That sweater is her most prized of all the clothing she owns. She said no one had ever knit her a sweater in her life. I think the wonderful ladies who did the knitting, had equal joy in making these sweaters for these people. 

One night was kind of funny in a weird sort of way. A guy came up after our meal was done, chapel service was all packed up and we were cleaning. All he had on was a cement bag around his waist. That was it. Not even socks! This does not happen often (I feel I need to tell you). He begged us to open the clothing rooms that were now all packed up. Of course we did. We found him everything he needed. Sadly no underwear, we were out of them by that time of night. They are a very popular item! Was he thankful? Yes he was. What happened to his clothes. We did not ask. Some things are better off not knowing!

It is good for us all to be thankful for the big and the small things that enrich all of our lives. Maybe on this weekend of Thanksgiving we will take a moment to say thank you for as much as we are able! In God's word we are told many times to give thanks... and we all have much to be thankful for.

Thank you for reading today! Happy Thanksgiving!