Offer the lonely your Thanksgiving heart

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a 1987 American comedy film written, produced and directed by John Hughes.  Steve Martin plays Neal Page, a high-strung marketing executive, who meets Del Griffith, played by John Candy. He is the ever optimistic, overly talkative, and clumsy shower curtain ring salesman, who lives in a different world far removed from Neal’s ordered life. Neal is in for a wake-up call about the true meaning of Thanksgiving. They share a three-day odyssey of misadventures. I couldn’t stop laughing following along with Del and Neal as Del tries everything posssible to get Neal home to Chicago from New York City, in time for Thanksgiving dinner with his family.

If you haven’t seen this movie it is a must see for Thanksgiving. Beyond the mad cap humor there is a serious message. We need to have a seat or even more than that open at our Thanksgiving table for those lonely souls, who without our invitation would be all alone at Thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving open your heart and home to all those who suffer, to those who have lost their spouse, to that elderly person living all alone, to that child, son or daughter who has gone astray, and to all who need to be loved and valued.

While my wife, Karen and I are Canadians and we celebrated our Thanksgiving in October, we are thankful today for so many things. We know our Lord loves us. We have a beautiful home to keep us out of the November chill here in Englehart, northern Ontario. God has blessed us with two furry felines named William a.k.a. Sir William of Lounge a.k.a. Sir William at Large.Who could forget the other name we have for our noble kitty knight, Sir Lounge a Lot and his sidekick sister, Princess Catherine of Chaos a.k.a. Her Royal Highness, Catherine of Englehart.

I reach out to our American friends across the border. Have a joyous, fun-filled Thanksgiving filled with the gift of time spent with family, friends and loved ones. Enjoy the blessing and God-given gift of one another.

For our Filipino friends, know that at this tragic time our thoughts, prayers and our ongoing support will be there. For those who have lost loved ones we offer our prayers, that God would comfort you all in the hour of your distress. We pray that those without food will get it immediately. We petition God’s throne of grace, beseeching Him that those without a home would soon have a place to call home.

Kitty Catherine jumps into my lap as I finish this piece. She is demanding my attention and is prepared to lay on my right arm, to get me to pay attention to her. On Thanksgiving let us also be thankful for our pets. They are a gift from God, who help us to destress and see part of the wondrous beauty of God’s creation. Our pets engage in hilarious antics like our Catherine, who has her disapproving frown perfected to a science, I have yet to master.

Put the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles in your DVD player as part of your celebrations today.  Even if you have seen it before, watch it again. Remember those who have no home to call their own like  those in the Philippines and people like Del Griffith. Offer the lonely and the hurting your home, food for their bodies and your compassionate heart for their souls.

Youll be glad you did and so will they.

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