A St. Mark Thanksgiving Memory

 Back in the late 1970's or early 1980's we had a Thanksgiving Eve Dinner where we each brought an assigned item: stew, bread, fruit salad, dessert.  When we got to Fellowship Hall, we were assigned seats.  One family sat on the stage at several long tables filled with food set on linen table cloths, candelabras. Many of us sat in folding chairs, with paper covering the tables with one pot of stew, no dessert or fruit.  But most stood crowded around a table covered with newspapers, having to share one loaf of bread

We didn't "get it" at first.  I wasn't that concerned because I'd brought my kids PBJ sandwiches knowing they wouldn't eat stew.  But some were very upset their children wouldn't have much food.  I can recall people approaching the very embarrassed family on the stage begging for food for their children, and that family motioning that others were welcome to take the food.  Still, it was a little humiliating to have to ask for food.  Eventually, the family caught on and started taking food to other tables.

I will never forget the event, but not many remember it. Maybe no one else was there that still belongs.  After awhile, we were told that the family with all of the food represented North America while those of us with chairs were Europe, and those who had to stand with very little food represented Africa.  Most of us walked away a little hungry but with the reminder that Thanksgiving was the next day with a feast, and we Americans had a lot to be thankful for.  

Jaclyn Morgan