“The forks go on the LEFT side Barabas!” Elizabeth explained as she folded the napkins and placed them next to each dinner plate just so.  They are setting the table at Barabas’s house.  Uncle Floyd said Elizabeth could stay for supper if her mom said ‘yes’ and her mom did say ‘yes’.  Uncle Floyd was making an especially nice dinner tonight because Mrs. Potato Head is coming over.

So, here they all are.  They just finished their dessert and Barabas and Elizabeth wanted to leave the table to play, but thought perhaps they should stay for some of the grownup conversation to be polite.

Mrs. Potato Head asked “So, if we want to plan this Thanksgiving Dinner for the homeless and poor families in Harrisburg, we will need lots of help.  I think we should plan on about 100 guests.  That means we will need about 20 volunteers to cook and serve.”

Uncle Floyd said “I reckon we should have this dinner on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving so we can get more volunteers.  Most people would not give up the actual DAY of Thanksgiving for the poor souls we will be serving.”

Mrs. Potato Head started talking about when the turkeys should be placed in the oven and how many turkeys they will need and how many ovens they will need ta da ta da ta da blah blah woof woof and on and on..  It sounded really complicated.

Elizabeth had stopped listening about the turkeys.  She was still thinking about why they should have the Thanksgiving Dinner on the day AFTER Thanksgiving. 

Mrs. Potato Head was going on about the kitchen at church when Elizabeth blurted out “What is the good of that?” 

Uncle Floyd and Mrs. Potato Head and Barabas all stopped and looked at her.

“What is the good of that!” Elizabeth said again.  “It won’t be Thanksgiving if you have the dinner on Friday.  Thanksgiving is THURSDAY.”

“Yeah, but who would give up their REAL Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving DAY to go help these poor people!” said Barabas.

“I would.” Said Elizabeth determinedly.

“I would too.” Said Mrs. Potato Head, coming to be convinced.

“I reckon Barabas and I could too.  Of course that means giving up the Dallas Cowboys on TV.”

“If a brother or sister lacks food and you walk past and say ‘Hey, have a good one.’ but do not help feed them, what is the good of that?  When we have Faith, it should show in our actions.”

These are baptized people of action.  We all are!  Our actions should help others, even when it falls on Thanksgiving Day.  Elizabeth hopes she can help set the tables at the dinner!

THE END

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