Our Sixth Dare Challenge Thanksgiving Meal is history.
During the twenty-four hours leading up to the meal, Steve and Sarah and I turned into veritable Thanksgiving-prep whirlwinds. The first thing on the to do list was to decide which napkin fold to use.
While Sarah made the Important Napkin Decisions and then folded twenty napkins, I did a few other tasks which I’d like to show you in case these ideas are helpful to you down the road. (photos below)
Photo 1: I got a big bin and filled it with all sizes of takeout containers as well as foil and gallon Ziploc bags. That way when it was time to pack all the leftovers to send home with Dare Challenge, I wasn’t frantically scrounging around for containers.
Photo 2: I put our ice in a colander to keep it from getting watery.
Photo 3: I put all of the cake knives, dessert servers, ladles, serving spoons, butter knives, meat forks, etc. in one place to make it easier to grab the needed utensil in a hurry.
Photo 4: I found these candle jars at a thrift store for $1 each. (Original tags said $16.50!) I taped a leaf behind each one and had instant autumn-y decor.
Photo 5: I used napkin rings as an easy candle decoration.
There was the setting up of (and the setting of) all the tables to accomplish . . .
. . . but at long last, it was all done.
(This picture shows off our new paint colors. The room used to be yellow and white.)
We had the guys come an hour before the meal so that they could enjoy just hanging out. Some of them played chess.
Some did stuff outside . . .
and one found a quiet spot to read.
While the guys were relaxing, Sarah and I stayed busy putting the final touches on the food.
Just before we ate, Steve gathered everyone in a circle to pray sentence prayers about one thing that they were especially thankful for. One man said it was his first Thanksgiving in ten years when he wasn’t high and out scrounging for drugs or food.
There were many thanksgivings spoken and prayed, each worthy of a smile, a tear, or a hallelujah.
Our church folks outdid themselves cooking. We had turkey, ham, eleven side dishes, two kinds of bread and eight desserts. The guys were so appreciative of the bounty and a couple of even noticed (and mentioned) the napkins, place cards, and special decorations. They said it made them feel like family. They also loved having their name cards with the meaning of their names printed out.
After the meal, there was some more hanging out time.
A couple of guys sat at the table and looked at some books from our bookcase that caught their eye.
A few of the men insisted on getting a start on the clean up. Every year that we have hosted, the Dare Challenge men always volunteer to help with the dishes.
I told Sarah she had better get a picture of me so that there was proof I was actually there!
At the end of the evening, there was the traditional “get a photo with Pastor Steve” moment.
Steve had to leave at 6 p.m to spend the night at the church with our homeless guests. (We feed and house the homeless two weeks each winter.) A Dare Challenge staff member was going to be spending the night as well.
When the guys heard what was going on, they said they wanted to pray for Steve before he left. Talk about a tender, heart-touching scene, getting to see a group of men snatched from the jaws of death (and that is not too dramatic a statement), turning their hearts and prayers to God on behalf of their mentor and friend.
As I stood and joined in the prayer, I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty that was being borne out of lives of chaos and heartache.
These men with substance abuse issues (some of whom have been homeless), were praying for Steve (who used to abuse drugs and alcohol) and was headed out to minister to the homeless, some of whom have struggled with drugs and alcohol. And just to make it all the more poignant, the Dare Challenge guys (many who have been in trouble with the law) had just sat and eaten Thanksgiving dinner with two police officers–former enemies turned friends.
I don’t think there could be any better way to spend Thanksgiving than to be a small part of the process of seeing broken people made whole and getting to witness prayers and tears and thankful hearts.
The recovering addict, the homeless, the preacher, the policemen, the pastor’s wife and daughter . . . we are all one family, all of us broken, all of us struggling, all of walking together on the road to healing.
Here are a few Dare Challenge posts from past years.
I’m sure Sarah does not have the time, but if she could show us how to do those napkins, that would be great. Unless she has taught you and you could do it for us????
Sharyn,
Sarah hasn’t come for Christmas break yet; however, I WILL post the video on Monday that we used to learn 10 napkin folds. Very easy to follow and impressive results!
You are so wonderful for doing this and welcoming these fine young men into your home. My only thought is….you refer to addicts. I think they are “recovering addicts”. May seem trivial to some….! Happiest of holidays to you and your beautiful family
Lauren,
Good point; thanks so much. I went back in and edited it.
So I had to back to other Dare posts to see the old paint colors because I have such a terrific memory–as in I had no clue as to what it looked like before the new paint. And wow! The new stuff looks great! Now I just have to remember what it looks like.
Proud of you guys as always for your practical, gets-you-right-there-in-the-heart, right where the rubber meets the road ministry! (probably not a good slogan) And the napkins were fab! 🙂
Love and kudos!
Deb
Deb,
I’m glad your memory was refreshed. Us over-50 gals take a bit more refreshing in the memory areas of life. 🙂
Now you just need to come and see the paint in person.
This is just lovely- all of it. I love the ideas and am going to snag some like them like the putting containers and ziplocks our together idea (brilliant!)and ice in a colander. The DARE men must have been so blessed by your kindness and generosity of heart.
Jenna,
Well, I always feel like we get blessed by them WAY more than they are blessed by us but it’s a definite 2-way Blessing Street.
Glad the little tips were helpful!
Now that is the true meaning of Thanksgiving! I can imagine how much it means to the men to have a Thanksgiving meal in a real home with a real family. This is such a nice thing to do each year.
I couldn’t imagine having that many people over for a formal dinner! Not enough room in my house! Everything looked so nice and the food looked delicious. The new paint color looks great too! Glad everything went well!
Forgot to mention, I love your pre meal organizing ideas. I always have a hard time finding those extra containers and their matching lids! P.S. Sarah did a great job on the napkins!
Kari,
Steve and I love putting on the ritz a couple of times a year; I think that’s what makes it special is that it’s not done real often so when we do it, it’s really a treat–for us and for our guests.
And yes, that organizing bin was a big help in the chaos of packing up all those leftovers.
I am just in awe of the posting of this wonderful Thanksgiving. The warmth of the men and to see how far the Lord has brought them – and their desire to fellowship with others that were former enemies. Thank you Becky and family for opening your home, to your church for providing the food, and the Lord for turning these lives around, and in turn, they will help turn other lives around. What a blessing your Thanksgiving is!
Sharyn,
You’re so right–we bless them and they turn around and bless someone else and the ripples from that day continue.
I always look forward to this post each year. What wonderful memories you have. Good job on the napkins Sarah.
Margie,
Sarah is the Napkin Queen! I couldn’t have done it without her.
A very good way to spend the day. Ruth
Ruth,
Yes, it was. Someday I want to spend Thanksgiving with you guys up there!
What an awesome way to spend Thanksgiving ministering to those who really need to be a part of a “family” again. Wonderful photo’s of it all too. We also have a lot of homeless people in a community about 20 miles from me, and some churches that open their doors, and I believe 2 homeless shelters, but every year we have people that are found frozen in the winter. So very sad. My heart breaks when I read it in the paper. We have COLD, COLD temps too up here in northern MN. so its bad for them out in the weather. But, I think its such an amazing thing for you all to make a meal and also help the homeless at night.
Wendy,
Yes, the homeless situation in the north is much more dire than the one down south simply because of those bitter temperatures. So glad to know the churches and community there are doing what they can but sadly, there are always those who fall through the cracks.
Every time I lie down in my bed at night, I am so very grateful for a place to sleep.
I do believe that hosting this dinner in your home and not in a social room or banquet hall at church or elsewhere is as big a part of the blessing as is the food and company. Hospitality, when it comes through us from Christ, is a powerful thing.
Kristy,
You’re so right. The Dare Challenge guys eat many, many meals in church fellowship halls but as you said, there is just something altogether different about sitting down in someone’s home. It filled up my heart to see how much they appreciated that simple gesture.
So touching and beautiful. You, your family and your church are such a blessing to those men!
Sarah, I sure would like to know how you learned to do all of those fancy napkin folds….fantastic job!
LeeAnne,
This is the video we used to learn the folds. I don’t know if it will work or not but I’ll give it a try!
I always look forward to this post each year. The comment from the one man who said it was his first Thanksgiving in years to not be high touched me to the core. Your church really steps up to help for this also. As for the folded napkins, I’m afraid mine would have just been folded in 1/2 about three times. The place cards are a nice touch also.
Phyllis,
That comment touched me, as well. Ten Thanksgivings is a long time to be searching for drugs; so thankful that he is on a new path.
Such a true blessing your family and church is to these men. I love the picture of the one gentleman quietly reading his bible. I am sure I say this every year but your Thanksgiving post is always my favourite.
Mel,
I loved that picture of the guy reading, too. So many special memories from that day.
What an inspiration it must be for these men to be with Steve, who has overcome alcohol and drugs. Bravo to all the Smiths, and your church community, for embracing the Dare Guys each Thanksgiving. I’m sure they carry the love and support throughout the year. And maybe a few extra pounds from that great spread of desserts!!!
Ann,
Yeah, I gained a pound evertime I walked by the table.
But on the serious side, Steve was just telling me last night that almost every Dare Challenge guy gains weight (and muscle) after several months in the program. They have spent so many years abusing their bodies and not eating healthy; when they arrive in the program they are fed well and are kept active. Restoring the phsycal body is a big part of recovery.
Priceless memories.
Steve,
Yes, indeed.
hard to read through tears… another glorious thanksgiving at the Smith Home
Pam,
Glorious is a good word for it!
I think it is wonderful that your family and church does this each year. Someone was real talented to find all those ways to fold napkins and then fold them in such a beautiful way. Sarah did great! Wonderful memories each year and what an impact you make on their lives.
Ann,
Beautiful napkins and beautiful memories. A good day, for sure.