Image credit: Photo by Alex E. Proimos Licensed under Creative Commons

On Thanksgiving morning, I needed to run out to the grocery store for a few last minute items, and if the parking lot of my local store was any indication, I was far from the only one.  As I weaved my way slowly through the traffic at the front of the store looking for an available space, I noticed a man standing in front of the store holding a hand-lettered cardboard sign bearing the words, "Please help."  I thought about the family I had at home, the friends we would be getting together with later that day and the feast of delicious food awaiting us all, and I decided I'd pick up dinner for the man from the deli counter in the store.

The store was running a Thanksgiving special, so I was able to get a plate of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, spinach and macaroni and cheese.  I added a piece of pumpkin cake (because, really, what's Thanksgiving without dessert?), grabbed napkins and utensils and walked outside to hand the bag of food to the man with the sign.

"Thank you so much," he said, "But I imagine it's turkey?  I don't have all my teeth, so I can't eat turkey."

"Well, yes, there's turkey," I said, "But I also got mashed potatoes and a few other things you should be able to eat. Please take it anyway."

"Thank you.  God bless you," he said.

"God bless you," I said.  (Wow.  I said that?  And meant it?  Crazy recovery.)

As I walked back to my car, I thought about how I didn't get the perfect meal for him, but how I got something that was good enough.  He may not have been able to chew the turkey, but the plate had other nourishing foods he could eat.  God was providing for him through me.  Then I thought about the times I have not gotten exactly what it is that I want, yet God provided for me too.  And I drove home feeling shaky and flushed with gratitude.