The irony of giving Thanks

We’ve all seen it. November 1^st comes around and we immediately do the 30 day challenge of giving Thanks. We are oh so thankful for many things, the little things, even the things we do not have because somehow we’ve managed to come to our senses, that if we don’t have it, it’s simply not the right time. And what is mindboggling is that we actually accept it, we are content with what we have. We are so passive and warm spirited, so happy and cheerful- we’re thankful.

Thanksgiving comes around and we are beyond grateful to God for our families, our friends, our homes, our jobs, we are thankful that we are able to put food on our table. We even pray for the homeless and those who do not have a piece of bread to eat. We are so considerate; some even invite people over who have no families- “aw, we feel bad, let’s invite them, honey” so we say. We have a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner. We eat, we laugh, we eat more, we watch TV, we eat, we play games, we eat some more, we talk some more. After everyone has left the house, we secure some left-overs for the next day; we put our game face on; it’s BLACK FRIDAY- how are we going to tackle this madness.

 

Now, please DO NOT misunderstand me, I am in no way, shape or form saying you shouldn’t go Black Friday shopping, of course there are great deals out there and if you’re patient enough to wait in the long lines- then by all means, that day was meant for you. If you can get a buck or two off on an item that you’ve been eying, then go for it- Christmas is around the corner. BUT it infuriates me to see how people go to extreme measures to get THAT one item; trampling over people, hurting them and even causing death over an item?!?! Are you serious??? What are the odds?

This is the irony of giving Thanks- one moment we are thankful, the next we are savages. Did you not say a couple hours ago- how thankful you were??? C’mon people. It’s so sad and ridiculous to see the videos surfacing online, to read stories of sales people dying, other people getting seriously hurt over an X-box or a TV. What are we doing with ourselves? What monsters are we creating? What our children see today, they will emulate tomorrow. Is that the kind of example we want them to have? Let’s think about it, for real.

We want to give our family and friends the best Christmas gift ever, I get that. But you won’t be giving them much if you’re behind bars, or if you’re at the hospital or if you’re six feet under. Is it really worth it? Really? Is it worth it? Black Friday is a huge phenomenon and it’s not going anywhere so if you’re a Black Friday regular, continue to shop and get great deals but be conscious of your surroundings- you may not be the crazy one, but there are a lot of them around you that are willing to fight for that video game; be prepared to handle the situation in a mature and adult manner. Other options to avoid Black Friday is to either take advantage of Cyber Monday or just work a little harder and longer for what you really want to purchase. Do lay-aways, save your money toward that particular product; trust me, there are other options that will not cost you your peace of mind or your arms, or your legs, or a hospital bill or funeral arrangements.

Are we truly thankful for what we have? Think about it because actions speak louder than any Thanksgiving prayer.

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!

Landy Perez-Feliciano ♥