lifeasmission

Malone Thanksgiving 2005

November 20, 2005

The Saturday before Thanksgiving is one of the most important days of my year and has been the last 8 years. That is not an exaggeration. Eight years ago when I was a freshamn in college (holy crap!) I was invited along with a few others to spend the Saturday before Thanksgiving at one of my friends parents house. We were supposed to watch football, maybe toss a ball around in the back yard and then have a Thanksgiving dinner together. Every year this event grew bigger and bigger. It’s now to the point that people plan on it well in advance, sometimes flying home from whereever they are. This group has grown as friendships have emerged, couples have married, and more recently, babies have been born. Each year, this gathering has become more and more significant to me. I don’t remember that first time awfully well, but I will never forget this year – and I wasn’t even there.

It didn’t work out for me to get home for Thanksgiving at the Hurst’s last year and this year I simply couldn’t afford the ticket. Today, at 1 o’clock California time it occurred to me that I was by myself in a sports bar, eating chicken strips and fries, and watching the Ohio State vs. Michigan game, while my best friends in the world were together in one house, cooking a grand meal, telling stories, laughing together, playing two-hand touch, and undoubtedy getting filled in on what everyone else was up to and what God had been doing in their lives. I decided to call and see if I could get a hold of anyone, but wasn’t able to. I was instantly saddened.

I finished watching the game, went back to my apartment and grabbed my books so that I could go to a local coffee shop and work on a paper that is coming due. Just after I started my phone rang and I noticed that it was my friend Josh, who I assumed was at the dinner. His voice nearly brought tears to my eyes (Josh’s voice can do that to me for any number of reasons). He said, “Junior, we’re all here at Heathers and we miss you. You’re on speakerphone and we want you to pray for us and the meal.” I was overwhelmed. I said a quick hello to everyone, offered up a prayer for my friends and the meal God had provided, and then told them all that I loved them and missed them and wished that I could be there. They all said the same, and we said goodbye.

It really was a short phone call, but one of the more profound ones of my life. That I got to share in the day, that they remembered me, that they gave me the honor of praying for the meal, all this causes great joy in my heart.

Many who will read this are the same friends who were at the dinner today. I love you guys, I really miss you. Thank you so much for remembering me and letting me be a part of something so important to me.

Many other who read this won’t have been there and may not really understand what the big deal is. If that’s the case, I’m sorry. I want to encourage you to plead with God to bring you into relationship with a group of people whose friendship you esteem so highly that to be apart is quite like losing a limb or suddenly not being able to speak.

Gang, I can’t wait to see pictures and hear stories. I am already counting the days till next year!

Posted in: friends, malone