Thanksgiving: Making Room at the Table
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. We gather around tables with family and friends, enjoy a good meal, and give thanks for the blessings in our lives.
Unfortunately, not every family in Waco and McLennan County will gather around a table filled with food this Thanksgiving. Throughout our community, parents are working hard to make ends meet, older adults are stretching fixed incomes, and children are growing up in households where there is not always enough food to go around.
Hunger is not simply a matter of empty cupboards. It is often the result of circumstances beyond a family's control, including low wages, rising living expenses, illness, and limited economic opportunities. Hunger is a downstream issue fed by upstream injustices. When we see hunger in our community, we often see the consequences of much larger challenges facing our neighbors.
Jesus reminds us in Matthew 25:31-46, "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me."
Notice that Jesus doesn't ask whether the hungry person deserves a meal. He simply tells us to provide food for them. In fact, Jesus identifies himself with those who are hungry and vulnerable. “Truly I tell you, whatever yo
This Thanksgiving, through DaySpring Holiday Hunger Outreach, we have an opportunity to put our faith into action. I invite each of us to respond in three ways:
Pray.
Pray for our neighbors who are experiencing hunger, for parents struggling to provide for their children, and for a community where everyone has enough to eat.
Act.
Volunteer your time and talents. Help prepare, organize, and distribute food through our Thanksgiving Basket partnership with Greater Ebeneezer Baptist Church. Get to know the neighbors we are called to serve.
Give.
Contribute financially or provide food to support our church's hunger outreach. Every gift, regardless of size, can make a difference.
Thanksgiving is about more than being grateful for what is on our own tables. It is about making sure there is room at the table for others.
