A Memorable Thanksgiving Moment

For me, an unexpected memorable moment was a Thanksgiving Day road trip to Duncan, Oklahoma while studying at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas. This was my first time not spending Thanksgiving with my family. This trip entailed roughly a dozen fellow classmates, many who were international students (from Poland, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, and a few from South Africa). Two sisters at CFNI had parents who warmly welcomed us all into their home to celebrate Thanksgiving with them.

That night as we were getting ready for bed, both Robert Ryan and I settled into our sleeping bags on the floor. It was the first opportunity we had to be out of earshot of others. With a measure of exasperation, Rob simply said something to this effect, “I can’t believe you, man!” I knew exactly what he was referring to. A smile slowly crept across my face as I glanced over at him as he sat up peering at me through his glasses. He shook his head, “I saw what you did in the car!”

I’d been caught. And I was certainly guilty as charged.

What was my infraction?

Earlier on that chilly Thanksgiving Day, a bunch of us piled into

As I stood there peering at the lake on a day the sun was cloistered by gray clouds, questions unknown to the others resounded within my mind. For weeks I’d been praying. Technically it had been months—but my prayers fueled by the unknown, coalesced with an intensity over the previous month due to several variables intersecting.

With the cold weather curtailing the visit, we all gingerly filed back into the overcrowded vehicle.

Like the previous ride, there were a few sitting on top of one another due to the cramped space. I was sequestered in the backseat.

Meanwhile, a beauty from Poland sat uncomfortably upfront amidst several of the girls.

Not wanting my bodyweight to be awkwardly exerted against the others I sat with, I sought to find something to hold to ensure I could alleviate any undue weight on another. In doing so, out of the corner of my eye, I saw another hand from the front using the headrest of the passenger seat to help provide support as the car sped forward.

It was the hand that held the questions that were percolating within my heart.

Seeking answers, I nonchalantly placed my hand on her hand. Would she quickly reposition her hand? Would she shriek aloud in horror? Would she avoid me like a nasty bowl of peas for the rest of Thanksgiving? I took the risk. I took the plunge.

To my delight, she did not move her hand. That memorable moment reminds me of the last line penned by poet Robert Frost in his classic, The Road Not Taken, “And that has made all the difference.”

My somewhat covert maneuver was not as hush-hush as I had thought. Rob had seen it all. Initially laughter filled the room as we reminisced upon my bold move earlier in the day. Though the details are a bit grainy twenty years later, I remember having a good, uplifting conversation with a friend who pointed me towards Christ in all of his encouragement. Before drifting off to sleep that night, we prayed together concerning what I had been praying for months: Lord, have you called me to pursue her heart to marriage?

Though I still had questions, my fuel tank was half full versus half empty regarding my hopeful optimism that I at least stood a chance to woo this Polish beauty. Three days later, everything would forever change—but that is a story for another day.

That’s my unexpected memorable Thanksgiving moment from twenty years ago today, November 23, 2000. Please take a minute to share your memorable moment, however long or brief, in the comments below.