Grandma Who Accidentally Invited Teen To Thanksgiving Welcomes Him Again

This Thanksgiving mix up resulted in a new holiday tradition for both families

Thanksgiving is about spending time with family, friends, and creating traditions together that last a lifetime. But what if you accidentally invite a complete stranger over for the holiday meal? Well, you set another place at the table and start a new tradition.

Arizona grandma Wanda Dench sent a text last year to what she thought was her grandson inviting him over for turkey day celebrations, but she actually texted Jamal Hinton, a then 17-year-old instead. When Hinton asked who exactly was sending the note, Dench replied, “Your grandma.”

Hinton went along and asked for a picture confirming her identity and got back a smiling Dench at work. “You not my grandma,” Hinton texted back, along with a photo of himself. “Can I still get a plate tho?” he joked. And then he received the most unexpected and lovely message back. “Of course you can,” she replied. “That’s what grandmas do.”

He shared the exchange on Twitter and their story instantly had the world saying, “Awwwwwwwwww, stop it. My heart cannot take this for one more second.” But it didn’t end there.

Hinton spent the holiday with Dench last year and this year the pair was back together again for another Thanksgiving celebration, which he shared again on Twitter, along with a picture of the two.

“He always has an open invite to our house for Thanksgiving,” Dench told local news station KPNX. “I do believe there are no accidents in life.”

Hinton agreed. “She was so nice and welcoming last year, I said I would be there,” Jamal said of their new tradition. “She’s a great friend.” Hinton does have a grandma of his own, but there is always room for one more grandma, so he heads to her house after eating at Dench’s. “I’ll just shoot over there, apologize for being late and try to stuff another plate in,” Jamal said.

Is it possible to love these two more? No, no it is not.

Dench said the two talk at least once a week and have become good friends. Their story is a powerful reminder of how important it is to be open to new relationships and that family doesn’t mean you have to be related by blood. And it seems the internet agrees:

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/934486938341347328

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/934944951275872262

With everything that is going on in this world, this story is exactly what we need right now. Here’s hoping this is a holiday tradition that lasts a very, very long time.