"ONE FOR THE WALL"

Two lifelong friends sat in a well-known coffee shop in Bayou Cane, which is in the deep southern sections of Louisiana. Although Bayou Cane has a population the size of McAlester it is considered a suburb of Houma, Louisiana. The area around Bayou Cane and Houma is considered the "cajun capital" with the largest concentration of Arcadians.

As they enjoyed their coffee, a man entered and sat at an empty table beside them. He called the waiter and placed his order saying, “Two cups of coffee, one of them for me and one for there on the wall.”

When they heard this order they couldn't figure out what a coffee for the wall meant. They observed that he was served with one cup of coffee but he paid for two. When he left, the waiter put a piece of paper on the wall saying “A Cup of Coffee”.

While we were still there, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one for the wall. They had two cups of coffee but paid for three and left. This time also, the waiter did the same; he put a piece of paper on the wall saying, “A Cup of Coffee”.

It was something unique and perplexing. They finished their coffee, paid the bill and left for a day's fishing trip in the bayou.

The very next day, they had a chance to go to this coffee shop again. While they were enjoying their coffee, a man poorly dressed entered. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, “One cup of coffee from the wall.”

The waiter served coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity. The man had his coffee and left without paying. They were amazed to watch all this, as the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the trash bin.

Now it was no surprise for them – the puzzle of "coffee for the wall" was solved. The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town is a testament to the true meaning of being "hometown friendly" and should serve as a example for each of us to help those who need help.

In less than two (2) weeks we will observe and celebrate Thanksgiving which kicks off a six (6) week holiday season. Let us begin this Thanksgiving by providing food, warmth and necessities to those who are needy or cannot take care of themselves.

Our Heavenly Father teaches us "The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor" (Proverbs 22:9). Face it folks, helping the needy and underprivileged will make you feel good.

Feeling good and being happy are two different things. Pleasure seeking and fun experiences is a short term state of being happy while being feeling good involves a deeper and content warmth which we get from being blessed.

Almighty and Loving God, guide us to observe and celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas this year by feeling good. Let us begin our Thanksgiving by sharing our blessings with those less fortunate. Whether it be food, clothing, medicines or some other necessity, let us begin our Thanksgiving helping those who need it. Heavenly Father, let us follow up a sharing Thanksgiving by making it our priority to give our feeling good to others. Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season and let us rejoice in our feeling good by telling others the "Good News From the Graveyard" which is Jesus is not there! Feeling good forever and ever AMEN!