A New Appreciation for Thanksgiving

What Thanksgiving Is All About! My New Appreciation for Thanksgiving.

With the kids and grand kids scattered from Denver to Paris on Thanksgiving Day, and close friends traveling, my wife and I decided to make a last minute trip to Burlington, Vermont. It was another place to check off on my bucket list and fairly easy to get to at the last minute on the night before Thanksgiving.

The 10 degree temperatures and below zero wind chill were tough to deal with, but didn’t stop us from going out. The challenge was finding a place to eat, as every restaurant appeared to be closed.

Stopping in at a local CVS, I asked if there was any place that we could go to for a Thanksgiving dinner. I was told that Sweetwaters Restaurant was open and that it was a short walk on such a frigid day. So off we went.

Upon arriving at Sweetwaters, we were warmly welcomed and told that we didn’t need reservations and were quickly seated at the packed restaurant. It wasn’t long after that we were offered a Thanksgiving meal. Thinking that there was only a single selection to accommodate the crowds, I quickly accepted and we were promptly served a very delicious meal. The ambiance was quite hospitable and the many families, young students from UVM, and others all seemed to be enjoying the food. No one looked out of place.

All was well and it seemed like a typical Thanksgiving dinner until I asked for the check. I was then told by one of the servers that there was no charge. I asked again and was given the same response. It was then that I was told that all of the food was donated, the servers were all volunteers. and Sweetwaters had been opening its doors to the community for the past 28 years. An incredible act of kindness!

Back at the hotel. I immediately went to Facebook to thank the restaurant. It was only then that I learned that former U.S. presidential candidate and U.S.Senator Bernie Sanders, as well as his wife and family were among the volunteers. There had been a picture posted of them on the restaurant’s Facebook page that made me aware of their presence. I hadn’t noticed Bernie, but recognized his son from the picture. Regardless of your political views this was an admirable gesture by Bernie.

This was the first Thanksgiving Day without being surrounded by a number of family members or close friends, but definitely one of the most memorable. I got to spend it with an eclectic “family” of college students, families with small children, and the homeless from the frigid streets of Burlington. All were the same. None were singled out. All were welcomed with open arms! Everyone serving was a giver spending time away from their families to serve others.

Isn’t this what Thanksgiving is all about? Giving thanks by serving others. I've had a number of serendipitous, or what I consider divine intervention, events in my life. I chalk this up as another one. The chances of my sharing Thanksgiving dinner with the homeless was not anything I had ever envisioned in my wildest dreams. There was certainly a message to be learned from this experience. I got it and couldn't wait to share.

I know that I will never again view Thanksgiving Day in the same way. I certainly have a new appreciation. What a memorable day!

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Has anything like this ever happened to you? What was your serendipitous, or divine intervention event?