A Thanksgiving tradition that started with a wrong text from grandma Wanda Dench to stranger Jamal Hinton in 2016 continues for their ninth year of celebration.
God brings certain people into our lives for a reason. When we look back at those moments we thought were chance encounters, we often discover they were divine appointments, carefully arranged by God to bless us and others.
This heartwarming story reminds us that God can use something as simple as a wrong text message to create bonds that reflect His love and bring joy to many.
In 2016, Wanda Dench typed out a Thanksgiving dinner invitation meant for her grandson. Instead, the message reached 17-year-old Jamal Hinton. When they exchanged photos to clear up the confusion, Hinton asked if he could still come for dinner. “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do… feed everyone,” Dench replied, setting in motion a tradition that would touch hearts across the country.
For nine straight years, they haven’t missed a single Thanksgiving together. This year brings a change as Hinton will host the celebration at his home for the first time.
Their bond grew stronger even through hard times, like when Dench lost her husband Lonnie to COVID-19 in 2020.
Their story took an unexpected turn in 2023 when Dench learned she had breast cancer after a CT scan for bronchitis found a mass in her breast. Despite having clear mammograms in the past and no family history of cancer, the diagnosis came as a surprise.
Dench finds strength in her faith, sharing Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.“
During her ongoing chemotherapy treatment, Dench continues to spread hope and wisdom. “I’ve learned a lot of life’s lessons through it all, but what I want to stress most of all is just because you may be older, we still have a life to live,” she shared on social media.
Their friendship has grown beyond yearly dinners. They launched a business together, selling alkaline black water called BlackMP. Netflix plans to make a movie called ‘The Thanksgiving Text’ about their incredible friendship.
“We hope it inspires more people to reach out and make connections that they wouldn’t ordinarily make,” they said together. “We are so blessed to find a genuine friendship brought together by God from a mistaken text message.”
Last Thanksgiving, Dench worked with Airbnb to share their tradition by opening her home in Prescott Valley, Arizona, to a stranger. This led Airbnb to give money to Feeding America to help fight hunger across the country.
Their yearly gatherings now include Hinton’s girlfriend Mikaela, making their chosen family even bigger.
People on social media look forward to updates about their tradition each year. “I love getting this reminder every year; glad to see yall still keeping the tradition,” one person wrote on their latest post about their upcoming ninth Thanksgiving together.
Another person wrote, “A family is not always blood, sometimes it’s the bond.”
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God’s perfect timing brought Jamal into Wanda’s life years before she would face some of her toughest challenges. Through the loss of her husband and now during her battle with breast cancer, this God-given friendship has been a source of comfort and joy.
What started as a wrong number has become a beautiful reminder that God places people in our lives exactly when we need them.
Let’s keep Wanda in our prayers as she fights breast cancer, asking God to give her strength and many more Thanksgiving celebrations with the family He brought into her life through a simple text message.
