At this time of year we all gather for Thanksgiving dinners and the company of family and friends. I remember the year my Mother accidentally showed me the best representation of Thanksgiving I have ever seen. I can’t for the life of me remember the exact year but somewhere between 86-88 let’s say.

Now for the story…
Twas the night before Thanksgiving and Mom and Charlie were down at the local tavern Martins enjoying some holiday cheer. As she looked around the bar Mom saw several people who she knew and also knew they had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving the next day. They were not welcome at their family or friend’s homes due to their attitudes, rudeness and other assorted issues.

Donald and Danny Chattin, who could hardly stand to be in the same room together. Mike and Francis Link who were known to be troublemakers. Joey Racine, who just got divorced, and had nowhere to go. Richard “Tree” Bush who was an alcoholic and not welcomed at his family gatherings. Even one man she didn't even know, but she later said "he looked sad and depressed" so she invited him too!

My mother went to each one and invited him to dinner the next day, told them where to come to and what time etc. Charlie was rolling his eyes, but knew Mom was to kind-hearted to not invite people she knew were down and out. Thanksgiving dawned and Mom realized what she had done but figured they guys she invited would not really take her up on her invitation.

To be safe we did have a 25 pound turkey and 15 pound ham and all the trimmings.Around noon “Tree” shows up in a suit carrying his knife set and apron (he was a chef after all), He immediately went to kitchen and helped prep and prepare food. Slowly the rest of the invited guys arrived. Now most did not have suits, but they wore slacks and button downs, even a tie, and those who did not have that wore their best jeans and flannels.

At dinner these men whom their own families did not want, sat down together for a meal. We all held hands and said grace each man with his head bowed and eyes closed. Then these men who under normal circumstances would have been fighting by now passed around dishes, saying “Please” and Thank You” each time and pardon me if they reached in front. After dinner they all pitched in to clear the table and do the dishes etc.

We may not have had much for leftovers that year, but it was the best example of a true Thanksgiving I have ever seen. And, each year I think of it still.

No one remembered ever seeing that stranger before, or since and no one knows his name, kind of makes you wonder....

Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

I really enjoyed your story.

Our family isnt that close.but i really enjoyrd and can stil.remember Thanksgivings at my Grannys when i was a kid..

I really mis that lady

That is exactly what it is all about!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!!

Still my favorite Thanksgiving memory,and I had some great one with the kids when they were younger,complete with trapping in the morning after putting the one turkey in the smoker ,then coming home mak9ing other side frying another turkey for dinner then us the kids, their girlfriends, other family and some of ex wife students who couldn't get home or international students.

What a wonderful story of being charitable. I'm sure it meant as much or more to those men as it did (and does still) to you. A friend just shared a quote from the philosopher Socrates: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". Everyone needs some kindness in their lives.

Thank you Mike. I really enjoyed that.

I look forward to this every thanksgiving. Thank you.

maybe the lesson is that at some point , people see the bottom and are excited to be invited to a strangers house so they put on their best and behave their best , to feel the joy of a holiday once again. to just feel human again you might say.

Very nice impactful story. Glad it ended well with great memories.

During my law enforcement years, I had similar acts of kindness go south. Well-meaning people got targeted by former dinner guests….

Almost 50 years ago, my wife and I married. I got laid off from the coal mine where I worked on my wedding day. A few months later, I got a job at a mine 150 miles from home. My wife and I loaded up the pickup and rented an house near the mine, in Somerset County ( near where the Flight 93 crashed ). The owner of the rental, Chester Fluder, owned a lumber yard and home improvement store. He invited my wife and I to their family’s Easter dinner, after Easter Sunday Mass. I never forgot his family’s kind gesture.