Do you remember your first Thanksgiving?

You probably don’t remember your first Thanksgiving – you were just a baby then! But I certainly remember mine. It was back in 2003, and I had just moved to the US from South Korea to study. I was 28 years old at the time, and I quickly learned just how big of a deal Thanksgiving is here in the US. My school even had no classes for the whole week! I almost spent that first Thanksgiving alone in my dorm room, feeling pretty homesick. Ever since that day, I have made it a tradition to go to Golden Corral for Thanksgiving every year. It’s become my own little Thanksgiving thing, you know? (a huge shoutout to Golden Corral! 😄👍)

A few years later, I received an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner at the home of a Korean American pastor who served at the Korean Methodist Church in Claremont, California. He and his wife warmly welcomed a group of international students, including myself, to their table. That’s where I had my first taste of home-cooked roasted turkey and all the traditional Thanksgiving side dishes. It was such a kind gesture, and I felt truly thankful to be included in their celebration. Looking back, I realize that meal was more than just delicious food. It was my first real experience of the true spirit of Thanksgiving – generosity, community, and sharing.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate to celebrate Thanksgiving with many wonderful people. You see, as a cross-cultural and cross-racial clergy, I’ve served in churches all across the states. Even though I don’t have any family nearby, the church families I’ve served with have always opened their homes and hearts to me. I’ve shared countless Thanksgiving meals with them – the Cotton and Song families in California, the Parsons and Kvanvig families in Nebraska, the Feldhausens, Nelsons, and Carpenters in Kansas… I’m so grateful for every one of them!

Thanksgiving is a time to remember all the good things in our lives and to give thanks to God. Even when things are tough, God is always there for us, loving us and giving us grace.

But Thanksgiving isn’t just about feeling grateful in our hearts. It’s about sharing that gratitude with others. Just like that pastor and families shared their Thanksgiving meal with me, we should all strive to share our blessings with our family, friends, and neighbors. This Thanksgiving, I hope we can all take a moment to appreciate God’s love and grace in our lives.

And I hope we can find ways to share that love and grace with those around us, especially those who need it most.

Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving Y’all!