guest post by Janet Delgado, office manager at Oro Valley UCC
written the morning of Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2019
I just put my potato casserole in the oven. It needs to be ready this afternoon when I carry it across town to spend the rest of the day with good friends. While it’s baking, I want to take a minute to say, “Happy Thanksgiving” to all of you. Working as the Office Manager at Oro Valley United Church of Christ is a blessing for me as I witness your kindness on a regular basis.
Around 10:00 on Tuesday morning I received a phone call from a lovely OVUCC member-couple. They asked if I knew of anyone that might be alone, and thus eating alone, on Thanksgiving Day. If I heard of someone, they hoped to invite that person, whoever it might be, to join them at their table to share a traditional turkey dinner.
A short time later, about noon on Tuesday, I had a call from another caring member. She was concerned about a church member she knew that would be alone on Thursday and hoped to find company for them. I told her I would see what could be arranged and let her know.
The get-together was arranged. From two simple phone calls to the church office, I believe a “mini-miracle” happened. There was a need and God brought good people together that met that need.
My casserole smells good as it’s baking and makes my little house feel cozy. Particularly on this day, it reminds me how fortunate I am not to suffer hunger and to have shelter. However, as I now live alone and am aging, I am reminded that I could suffer “aloneness.” Thanks to the good people that I am surrounded by, and with God’s intervention and guidance, I know that won’t happen at OVUCC—no aloneness here!
Later today I will sit at a table with another OVUCC member-couple and their friends. I was invited, along with another single lady, to join them for their lovingly prepared thanksgiving meal. As we go around the table and recite what we are thankful for, my prayer will be, “Thank you God for the people at this table, thank You for my far-away family, thank You for letting me regularly see the kindness of my fellow church members, and thank You for letting me witness Your mini-miracles that happen so often at Oro Valley United Church of Christ. Amen.”
Have a lovely Thanksgiving Day,
Warmly, Janet Delgado