The other possible title for this post is “how I saved Thanksgiving” – but that seems a bit presumptuous if not outright unbelievable, so I went with the first title. Me, saving Thanksgiving? – that is definitely presumptuous, unbelievable and ironic all at the same time, because I am not, nor do I claim to be, any kind of a cook. And of course, Thanksgiving is all about the food. (although in Thanksgivings past, I have contributed the not too bad broccoli-rice casserole) Still, I would not come to mind even as a last resort to be the one to call upon to save someone’s Thanksgiving celebration.

Yet, just yesterday, I was someone’s last resort and I did save Thanksgiving, or so they said. Of course, there is a backstory which explains this weird yet true tale. It all started with a phone call very late on Thanksgiving Eve. It was my neighbors across the street. Their oven was not working and they were preparing their Thanksgiving feast for the following day. Their stove and all other appliances were working normally. It was just their oven that had quit working without warning, without giving advance notice that it would be taking the holiday off. (and of course their oven made this decision well after service businesses were closed for the night and for the holiday the following day)

So my neighbors called me, not in search of a cook, but of an oven available on the day when most ovens are working overtime. Not my oven, however. My oven was not booked. I was not cooking. I was traveling south to be with family on Thanksgiving Day. Therefore, I was more than happy to volunteer my oven’s services to my neighbors for the day. And so I did. I must say, when I returned that evening, my house smelled really good, still filled with all the good food smells of what had been baked in my oven during the day. I also received the bonus of a plate of food the next day. Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving leftovers?

My neighbors were grateful, saying I had saved their Thanksgiving. Who doesn’t like to be the hero from time to time? Having had a previous incident with their oven within the past year, my neighbors felt their oven was trying to steal their Thanksgiving, much like the Grinch, who attempted to steal Christmas from the Whos. However, it was really my oven that saved their Thanksgiving, not me.

Because I am not much of a cook, me saving anyone’s Thanksgiving is the height of irony. But here’s the greater irony of me writing this particular post. This post follows a post I wrote just mere days ago – “the joy of left hand/right hand living.” Now the message of that post is basically – do your good deeds on the down low, nobody else needs to know. And yet here I am sharing a good deed story with you all in my very next post? Now that’s irony that can’t go unnoticed nor unmentioned! Oh, how fickle the human heart!

So often others, including these neighbors, have come to my rescue. Often, others are the answer to my prayers of need. Therefore, it is a privilege when I get to be the answer to someone else’s prayer of need. It’s a joy and sometimes the joy just overflows and needs to be shared. I am grateful to have the opportunity to live out God’s instructions –

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16)

“If anyone has material possessions ad sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:17-18)

This oven lending wasn’t exactly a top-secret mission anyway. It was just an unexpected opportunity that presented itself. The Grinch wasn’t able to steal Christmas and my neighbor’s untrustworthy oven wasn’t able to succeed in stealing their Thanksgiving. Crisis averted. Holiday saved! It was fun and a joy to be a part of this rescue mission that saved Thanksgiving.

But now I must return to the left hand/right hand life of the everyday. I will take up invisibility and anonymity once again, as I go out in search of my next undercover assignment. But don’t expect to hear about it from me. I vow to maintain secrecy at all times in the future.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! May you find plenty of reasons to be thankful, as gratitude is the perfect heart preparation for the upcoming season of Advent.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)

sincerely, Grace Day