Thanks... for nothing.

I meant to write this post some time ago but I just never got around to it. As if it wasn't obvious already, I noticed even more this year just how worldly many American's are.

Every year families get excited about Thanksgiving and what it means. People get excited about time with family, big meals, good stories, and giving thanks for what they have. Even the least grateful of people will find themselves taken over by the spirit of the holiday and give thanks for everything they have been blessed with. In addition, families with little to no religious tendencies in their lives will find themselves praying before their Thanksgiving meal. I gives me so much hope to see how families respond to this holiday. I begin to think that there is a chance that our society is not solely based on immediate gratification and material goods.

But this thought is quickly crushed within only a days time. That is because the day following Thanksgiving is of course Black Friday. Our thankfulness for life and family does not even last the night and we rush to the stores as early at 4am. Only a day after we realize that happiness can be found in simply sharing a meal and a few hours with one ones we love, we quickly return to our old ways of trying to buy our happiness. It's sickening to see how quickly we can shift from being satisfied with knowing we are loved by our families to becoming a sale-seeking monster.

Now there are those who say, "What if I'm just getting up that early to find the best deal." or "Why can't I show that I love my family by getting them what they want for Christmas?" Those statements are justified and I can't lump everyone into the same category but I think it would be beneficial for you to honestly critique your intentions. Do you really have to leave your husband alone in bed at 4am to get him the DVD player he wants? I doubt it. So I do acknowledge that gift giving is a love language, but as with all things, it is best in moderation. Plus, hardly ever do we have only one love language.

With this all said may Thanksgiving be a time marked with love for family and friends and only that. Keep the commercialism out of it.