By Chester the Turkey (with a little help from his human friends)
Hello! My name is Chester, and this Thanksgiving, I have quite a lot to be thankful for. Watermelon, for one thing. Have you tried it? It’s wonderful. I also enjoy romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and grapes. Especially grapes.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Not so long ago, I was lying beside a highway in Virginia. My wing was shattered, my beak was broken, and my body was covered in painful scrapes. I don’t know how long I had been there. I only know that I couldn’t get up.
Then a man named Dave stopped his truck. He saw me move, pulled over, and came to see what was wrong. Instead of leaving me there, he gently picked me up and placed me in the passenger seat. I didn’t know it then, but my whole life was about to change.
Dave took me home to his wife, Christina, who gave me my name. They brought me to a veterinarian, cared for my injuries, and helped me heal. And somewhere along the way, I became part of their family.
These days, I’m thankful for something as simple as grass beneath my feet. One of my first adventures in my new home was walking into the barnyard. Imagine that! Grass! Real grass, growing right out of the ground. There was so much to see and investigate, and I could wander around and explore. I don’t think most humans give grass much thought. But when something as simple as feeling the earth beneath your feet is new, a patch of green is something to be grateful for.
I’m thankful for good food, too. I’ve already mentioned watermelon, haven’t I? My family makes sure I have plenty of nutritious food, along with delicious fruits and vegetables. Sometimes I even help myself to a grape straight from Christina’s hand. What can I say? I know what I like.
And I’m thankful for friends. Turkeys are social birds. We enjoy company, form friendships, and recognize familiar faces and voices. My favorite people are Dave and Christina. I follow them around because I like being wherever they are. I even know my name, although I don’t always feel like responding when someone calls me, hehe. At night, instead of being left outside alone, I sleep safely inside my family’s home. Most of all, I know that I’m safe and cared for. It’s nice to belong somewhere.
I am thankful for sunshine, fresh air, and freedom. I enjoy exploring the farm, watching everything that’s happening around me, and deciding how to spend my day. Sometimes I just want to stand outside and take it all in. I’m a curious fellow. There are interesting things everywhere when you’re allowed to look for them. After all, a turkey has places to go, things to investigate, and grapes to find.
But most of all, I’m thankful for tomorrow. I was probably on my way to a slaughterhouse when I ended up beside that highway. If Dave hadn’t stopped, I wouldn’t be here to tell you about my wonderful new life.
Millions of turkeys won’t get the second chance I did. Instead of exploring grass, enjoying the sunshine, making friends, or discovering a favorite food, they will be killed for Thanksgiving.
I wish I could tell every one of them about the kind man who stopped his truck for me. About Christina, who gave me a name. About the grass, the grapes, and the gentle hands that stroke my neck. I wish they could have those things, too.
This Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll remember that turkeys like me are among God’s creations. We have our own personalities, our own friendships, and our own reasons to be grateful for another day. And if you’re wondering how to give a turkey something to be thankful for, I have a suggestion:
Let us live.
There are so many delicious things you can put on your Thanksgiving table: vegan roasts, creamy mashed potatoes, savory stuffing, and, of course, pumpkin pie. Personally, I’ll be having watermelon. And when my family gathers to give thanks, I’ll be right where I belong—alive, loved, and looking forward to tomorrow.
Give Turkeys Something to Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving
Chester’s story is real, and his rescue reminds us what a single act of mercy can mean to someone in need. Scripture calls us to treat God’s creation with compassion, and Thanksgiving gives us a beautiful opportunity to put that teaching into practice.
This year, give turkeys something to be thankful for, too. Choose a delicious vegan Thanksgiving meal, explore PETA LAMBS’ animal-friendly holiday recipes, and celebrate God’s creation by leaving turkeys off the table.
