The Black Sheep of Black Friday
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You’ll have to forgive me, but honestly, I’m feeling a little like the Cindy Lou Who of Thanksgiving today.
Our gratefulness lives shorter each year as Americans. We move our deal shopping time forward from 5 am to midnight because, well, you can never start trampling people too early for the deals.
You know I love deals. It’s not the deals that bother me. It’s the attitude behind the deals.
It’s the forced marketing that drives our nation to spend money we don’t have.
 It’s the inability to say yes to delayed gratification because the delay is so inconvenient.
The outlook that says:
“Ok, I’m finished giving thanks; that is so yesterday. On with the instant gratification. On with American fulfillment.”
Yet we continue on wondering why we are not happy. One of ten US adults report depression.  Our Thanksgiving is so short-lived, that eventually it turns non-existent. The drive for more, the constant itch to satisfy our every whim of material goods, pushes our thankfulness further into the corner- one select day a year where we stuff ourselves to the point of engorgement and heave a small sigh of thankfulness under our breaths.
Do you think that maybe, just maybe the tree of dissatisfaction is grounded in ungratefulness and rooted in thanklessness?
Could we possibly be searching shelves for deals and standing in lines for gain, only to return home with empty hearts?
Did you know that in the middle of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26, 1863? Yes, in the middle of war.
And that Thanksgiving was originally not about turkey or stuffing or fluffing up the sales but it was, according to Wikipedia:
Maybe I am the black sheep of black friday.
And yes, I left the caps off on purpose;
it’s not a holiday.
I just have to ask, in my very best Cindy Lou Who voice:
Perhaps there is more to Thanksgiving than we give credit for?
Well said Rachel. I personally find it disgusting that each year the so called “shopping holiday” encroaches more and more on a day of national Thanksgiving that should focus our attention on our blessings – not our possessions…
Come visit my post about what Thanksgiving should be a reflection on – http://bit.ly/w2IqK6 .
Blessings,
Paid you a visit, Friend! Thanks for stopping by!
Wow, This was really good. I couldn’t agree more. I can’t imagine wanting a deal so badly that I’d pepper spray my fellow shoppers for it! I’ve learned that the discontent really is rooted in unthankfulness. I’m not speaking from some posh circumstances either. We’re in foreclosure right now. But I’m still thankful. 🙂
Kimberly, That is so awesome that you are thankful in spite of circumstances. I prayed for you and yours just now; God is good all the time!
Rachel, I so appreciate your writing this — it was great and very well said. I’m not a black friday shopper for the very reasons you pointed out, plus I feel claustrophobic just thinking about all those shopping crowds and lines. May God bless you and your family, and your writing!
Thank you Anna! God is good. So good.