HAPPY THANKSGIVING
In our home, each October, Thanksgiving is always preceded by another celebration… our wedding anniversary. My wife Marlene and I just celebrated our 33rd.
On the big day, we exchanged gifts
then took a stroll down memory lane, beginning with our first date in the
summer of 1980.
I was out with buddies, bell-bottom jeans
and all, and we decided to hit up a local social event. I spotted Marlene in
the crowd – waist-length strawberry-blond hair and a hearty laugh – and mustered
up the courage to approach her. I’m not sure what the problem was, but the
girlfriend with her did not like the looks of me, and asked me to leave!
Marlene too seemed a bit reluctant.
But I persevered. An invite out for pizza would be safe and simple enough. So to my relief, but over her best friend’s
objections, Marlene agreed to go for a slice with me later that very evening.
And the rest is history. We shared a pizza
together and chatted until the wee hours of the morning. Thus began my pursuit
of the one who would marry me, just before Thanksgiving in 1983.
So, as Marlene and I revisited these memories,
we giggled about that first date in a pizza parlor. And laughed about the quirky
jobs we’ve tried or the goofy family moments we’ve had. It became a thoughtful
conversation recalling highs and lows. As we reached the most recent years,
including our time with Food for the Hungry, we saw clearly a theme throughout
our story: faithfulness.
Life hasn't always been a slice, but faithfulness has proven itself true. The faithfulness of parents who encouraged
us, the faithfulness of friends who celebrated with us and walked with us
during seasons of grief, the faithfulness of communities that have taught us so
much, and the faithfulness of God who was and is always so loving, kind, and
patient with us. We concluded that these past few years may have been the most
transformational and instructional of them all.
We’ve learned so much about faithfulness
through FH’s global family – and that includes you.
Many of you have walked with some of the world’s
most vulnerable for years and witnessed God transform communities once stuck in
grinding poverty. Some of you have just begun the journey with a child and their
community through Sponsorship, committing to see them thrive. Whether you’re a
long-standing part of this family, or just joined, I’m thankful for the love
you let flow through you.
This Thanksgiving I want to leave you with
one important idea; all the love that has flowed freely to you was intended to
flow through you uninhibited. Its divine source has no end - know this, experience
this.
At FH we delight in the ways Canadians like
you let generosity and love flow. You are a gift and we are deeply thankful. We
are committed to faithfully helping your love and generosity flow unfettered to
those in need.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Bernie Willock
President & CEO
