All of us recall different events that have touched our lives in ways that we have never forgotten. This time of the year especially rekindles some special moments in my life that will always rise to the forefront of my memory.
   In 1987, we were living in Nicoma Park, Oklahoma. It was just a few weeks before Thanksgiving and I was in my office when the phone rang. I was traveling a lot and working with the D.A.R.E. program to reach young lives. But on this day, a need came to my attention on a local basis.
   My secretary let me know there was a young lady on the phone who was calling for some help. When I answered the phone, the young lady let me know that she needed groceries and she was at a pay phone next to the local grocery store. She wanted to know if my organization would help her get food for her kids. If not - she was going to steal food at the store, but wanted to call before she committed a crime.
   I knew the owner of the grocery store and told her that she didn't have to worry -- we would help her. I called a retired couple in our community who loved to help others. They met this young lady at the store, bought plenty of food, and took her home to some low income housing apartments.
   A few weeks later, as Thanksgiving was just a few days away, this couple paid a visit to the apartments. As they were visiting, they asked one family, "Are you going to have a good Thanksgiving?" But the reply was sobering as the man said, "If we don't have money to buy a turkey today, we certainly won't have any money to buy one for Thursday."
   The loving couple called me and said, "What are we going to do?"
   I called the owner of a local restaurant and told him that we had around 70 people in a small low income apartment complex that needed to have Thanksgiving dinner. He agreed to prepare a great meal at a very reasonable cost and I agreed to pay.
   On that Thanksgiving -- we hosted a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. My family, along with my parents and mother-in-law, agreed to join these men, women, and children for a Thanksgiving celebration. The people wore their best clothes and arrived with plenty of smiles and hugs.
   On that special day, 20 years ago, we had a feast that we have never forgotten. Those people weren't rich financially, but they were wealthy with gratitude and love. While they didn't have much -- they knew how to appreciate the necessities of life.
   We sang some gospel hymns -- shared how God had blessed our lives -- and we ate, and ate, and ate some more. There were sounds of joy and laughter from all -- especially the little children.
   But there was one man who came up to me after we were finished. He had a plaid coat on with a striped tie, but no one cared what the fashion police thought.
   He said, "I just wanted to tell you thank you. We wouldn't have had any food on Thanksgiving. This is the best day of our lives."
   As I fought back the tears....OK -- I cried. I hugged him, his wife, and his two small children and told him it was the best day of my life, too! And it was! It marked a day in my life that I have never forgotten.
   We lived there another Thanksgiving and we hosted another feast. Instead of being at home with a small family -- we enlarged our boundaries and found some people who discovered that someone loved them. And they loved us back!
   It is my prayer that this Thanksgiving will be a monumental time in your lives. We all have much to be grateful. Join me in giving thanks this year. Happy Thanksgiving!
   E-mail: drdd@swbell.net

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