We cannot help everyone, but we can, and surely must, help some.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” ~Matthew 24:34-40

The season of giving thanks is here! For many of us, that means we will be preparing our tables for a lovely Thanksgiving dinner shared with family and friends. We will cook the turkey, the sides and all the fixings. We’ll bake favorite desserts and welcome those we love to gather around our table and enjoy them with us. We will give pause and thanks for the blessings we have so graciously been given.

It is good to give thanks, but even better, to remember the least of these during this special season. As we shop for supplies, let’s not forget the mothers who don’t have the means to provide even a single meal for their precious children. As we prepare the table for our guests, let us not forget the strangers in foreign lands who have left their loved ones and their homes in the hope of better circumstances and a new life. As we bow our heads and give thanks, let us pray for the elderly in poor health, who are alone and forgotten.

I recently returned from a trip to the Ukraine that impacted me in more ways than I can express. I saw absolute beauty and joy in the eyes of precious orphans. I saw loneliness and fear in the eyes of dear sweet elderly who have been forgotten by family. These images lay heavy on my heart as I pray for them all.

So, this Thanksgiving, let us give thanks with grateful hearts. And let us not forget the least of these. Let us remember that love makes a difference.