It was the last 2 minutes of the flight. Technically, the plane had landed and we were all waiting to get off. You know how that goes. I struck up a conversation with the stranger at the window. We chatted about our destinations. He was meeting up with his dad to go to the LSU vs. Alabama football game before moving to the Bay Area.

“Seriously? I lived in Alabama.” We paused for a moment.

“Roll Tide,” he said.

“Roll Tide,” I responded and moved on. “We now live in San Francisco. When are you moving?” I asked.

“Probably middle of this month,” he sounded pretty certain.

“Will you be there for Thanksgiving?” I didn’t give him time to answer before my follow up. “And do you have a place to spend the holiday?”

“I will be and no, ma’am, I don’t.”

“You do now. Join my family for Thanksgiving. I’m Shauna.” And just like that I gave a stranger my email address, along with the fact we are very casual and would be honored if he’d come.

“Thank you. I might do that. I’m Carter.”

My goal in life is not to turn every stranger into a friend. I do want all people I encounter and converse with to know they are seen and loved.

Will Carter come? I don’t know.

Does Carter have a contact out in the Bay Area now? Yes, he does. And I’ll just go ahead and speak for his mom and dad, aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa. They’re glad he’s got one too!

What can we add to our Thanksgiving?

an extra place setting.

Set one out wherever you celebrate. At your parent’s home. At your first home. At a friend’s. At your family table.

Then invite someone to join you. Maybe they’ll come. Maybe they won’t. If you’re not hosting, ask your host if you can bring someone. 

A single mom who doesn’t have the kids with her this holiday. A widow. An international student. The postal worker and spouse. Someone who lives far from family. A classmate. A colleague. The guy next to you on the plane!

This place setting - use what you’ve got. It doesn't have to match. This doesn’t require another trip to the store to make it all perfect. In fact, as we invite others in, they prefer it not to match. This intention ushers in belonging and love.

I can’t do that! That’s risky. Besides, you don’t know my family.

This might be a stretch for you or your friends and family this year.

Go ahead and do it anyway. Add an extra place setting. Even if you don’t invite anyone, it’s a first step to say I’m going to make room for one more in my life.

Then don’t ignore the elephant in the room this holiday. Discuss with one another what it would be like to one day invite someone over who needs a friend, someone who wants an invitation. When you offer a prayer of thanksgiving, pray for the person who this place setting represents in your community.

We’re setting out a place setting for Carter.

We hope he comes. But if he doesn’t, he will be prayed for.

Will you add a place setting to your table this year?

This is bold. This is courageous. This is intentional. This is going somewhere.

This is recognized by our Father and felt by our friends.

Leave a comment and perhaps a story.

We always do a puzzle on Thanksgiving Day.

What is one of your traditions?

You sharing this post is always a blessing to me.

Grateful, Shauna .