We are called to certain things in life and ministering to those around us is one them. I have an elder cousin, who is the only real friend that my mother has. The last two years she has joined us for Thanksgiving dinner, because for some reason or other, her children and grandchildren have not included her in their Thanksgiving Day festivities.
The first time she joined us, I learned that she always eats a whole turkey leg every year. When she was little her grandmother used to always save her a turkey leg. It was one of those special things in her life. She claimed it was because everyone else ate the white meat so the grandma would put it aside just for her.
Well, this year she is in the local rehab facility and her family again did not include her in their Thanksgiving Day celebrations. So I saved her a turkey leg and in the late afternoon Mom and I took it to her for supper. We walked in with her piece of the bird. What a joy it was to see her eyes light up and her laughter at receiving this small portion of our Thanksgiving Day meal. She sat there in glee and ate the entire thing and again told me the story of her grandmother saving her the turkey leg. It is also entertaining to watch my mother’s face as she tells this story because they shared the same grandmother and Mom seems to get that puzzled (shall I say, jealous) look on her face, not understanding why she did not get the other turkey leg. But then I remember that it has only been in the recent years that Mom has preferred the dark meat over the light.
This was a different kind of Thanksgiving Day venture for me. We are usually prone to dressing up like pilgrims and playing games. I have to tell you it was a blessing to me to see these two elderly cousins sitting and enjoying the afternoon over the gift of a turkey leg. I got to re-hear some old stories, some I had forgotten and promptly asked my mother to write down. I had one particular great aunt that was a bit of a character with a bossy personality and I always love to hear those stories.
This dear woman eating the turkey leg was then telling stories about her mother who was my absolute favorite great aunt and even in the story telling I could identify with her. My mother looked over and pointed out the similarities to me. I thought very highly of this woman so it did bring an internal smile to my heart.
And then there were the stories of the great-great grandmother who had got syphilis from her husband when he came back from the Civil War and about how the other grandfather must have behaved himself because the other grandmother did not have syphilis. Then toward the close of the evening both women got to talking about the trips they had been on together—stories I have heard over and over but always fun to watch these too laugh and compare notes.
Operation Turkey Leg was a great success!!