The Server
Years ago, on Thanksgiving morning, I took a short drive to the homeless shelter in the middle of town, where I would spend the morning serving those in need. This was a place where people came for meals and sometimes a place to sleep. As a martial arts instructor, I had always felt a strong desire to help others and remind them of their value and importance in the world.
The reason I loved going there on Thanksgiving morning was that it was the one day of the year when the shelter was transformed into a restaurant-style atmosphere. The homeless men, women, and families were greeted by a hostess at the door, seated at tables with cloth napkins and metal utensils, and served a steaming Thanksgiving breakfast by a server (like me).
I will never forget how joyous they looked at the moment I placed the food in front of them. But their joy had nothing to do with the food I served. It had everything to do with the love I served.
And I understood how they felt 100% as I know there were times in my life when I could have been in their shoes.
The Circumstances
I spoke with the shelter’s manager who coordinated the annual Thanksgiving breakfast. He understood how important this event was to a community of people who were struggling just to get by. Yes, some struggled with addiction or mental illness, and others were simply down on their luck. But that is neither here nor there when it comes to serving someone else.
On Thanksgiving, something was different. The homeless dressed up and wore their best clothes for their breakfast. As they waited in line to enter, they were patient, and their quiet conversations filled the space.
Those years of serving Thanksgiving breakfast to people experiencing homelessness remain memorable to me because I always felt that the little time I spent serving them could remind them of their value and significance. I knew that nourishment comes in many shapes and sizes, often through love and courtesy just as much as it does through food.
The Gratefulness
I visited that shelter year after year. The same people and families returned almost every Thanksgiving, and many never made it off the streets. They knew there was always a place to go on Thanksgiving, and I was always there to share that experience with them.
Honestly, I was grateful to be there and to experience moments that I might otherwise never have understood. My own personal struggles seemed smaller, and my desire to help change the world in some positive way grew stronger.
As they enjoyed their delicious breakfast, the people thanked me politely before stepping back into their world with a full belly, at least for that morning.
But they also left with something more important and that was knowing that other people cared enough to be there that morning to serve them a hearty Thanksgiving breakfast.
A Full Belly
Today, ask yourself this:
- Do you have a full belly?
- Do you have a full life?
- Do you have a life full of possibilities and opportunities?
If not, fill yourself up whenever you have the chance. Allow yourself to experience the things that bring you hope, purpose, and a reason to continue pursuing your mission, dreams, and goals.
I live in a different place now, and I no longer serve breakfast on Thanksgiving. But the memories and purpose of those mornings come rushing back whenever I wake up on Thanksgiving morning.
There is, of course, one specific thing for which I am eternally grateful. Throughout my life, I have overcome my own personal struggles and even potential homelessness through a diet of love, faith, and martial arts. And because of that, I always have a full belly.
xoxo,
Andrea
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More inspiration:
Books & Podcast:
- The Martial Arts Woman: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman-Motivational-Stories/dp/1544916213
- How to Start Your Own Martial Art Program: https://www.amazon.com/How-Start-Your-Martial-Program/dp/1511795263
- Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations-Everyone-Andrea-Harkins/dp/150297830X
- Write Amazing Wedding Vows: https://www.amazon.com/Write-Amazing-Wedding-Step-Step/dp/172339484X
