Let’s intentionally be and live like people who are thankful.
When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of eating turkey and dressing with the people who I hold most dear. We cook together and spend the day together. We watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together. We enjoy each other.
There have been years when I have participated in really large gatherings and years where I have spent the day with only immediate family.
My Thanksgiving Day has never included shopping. For many years, the day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, was the first official shopping day of the Christmas season. But, a few years back, some enterprising retailers decided to open on Thanksgiving Day.
Those poor employees who worked at those stores, had to give up Thanksgiving with their families. I’m all for free enterprise, but seriously, I’ll bet the CEO’s didn’t work. I’ll bet they were with their families enjoying the holiday. Thankfully, there has been a lot of push back from consumers and there is a decent list of retailers who are staying closed on Thanksgiving this year.
Some of the larger names include Costco, Sam’s, TJ Maxx, REI, Staples and GameStop. I’ve included a link if you would like a more complete list.
http://fortune.com/2015/10/27/thanksgiving-day-stores/
I remember a time when the stores were closed on Sunday too. I truly admire Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby for continuing to stand by their Christian principles and refusing to open on Sunday, even if the practice costs them money.
A recent extensive Pew Poll, found 70.6% of Americans claim to be Christian. We are still the majority here. Perhaps it’s time that we become a little more vocal and active regarding our beliefs.
It’s a well-known fact that strong families are the backbone of a strong society. Having a parent miss out on Thanksgiving Dinner to run a cash register at a retail store, is not something that we have to support with our dollars.
We could also make it our business to support those retailers who have chosen to stay closed on Thanksgiving and allow their employees to enjoy the holiday. We have the numbers to make the difference. Maybe we should.
Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. It’s a day to take a pause and be truly thankful for all that we have been given. Just being an American citizen is a huge gift to be thankful for in itself.
Most of us have so much to be thankful for, even if we forget sometimes. One of our greatest freedoms is freedom of religion. Perhaps, it’s time for Christians to send a message to corporate America that there are some things that we hold dear. Time with our families is one of those. Giving thanks and setting aside a time to do so, is another part of our core beliefs.
Thanksgiving Day is three weeks from today. What if we all took the next few weeks to not only be intentionally thankful for all we have been given, but also to pray that the world around us would be convicted to feel less entitled and more thankful for their gifts too?
True change begins in the heart. Who knows what kind of difference we can make?
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂