January, February, March, APRIL….., Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday……., Fourth of July, Labor day, Halloween, Thanksgiving……. And what comes next…….. BLACK FRIDAY!

Actually,…… Black Friday begins on Thursday now, taking the place, for many, of Thanksgiving!

Ironic!

“Hurry up!”

pause here…….
……….. to pray, …………..
giving thanks……

THANKS!!??!  For what???….

did you see the price on_________? (You fill in the blank)

“stuff that turkey and mash potatoes down already! We need to Get to Best Buy for the I phone 5s with 64GB!”

There is a new Holiday trumping Thanksgiving now, actually, for quite a few, making Thanksgiving obsolete!

Say what you will about “being thankful”  for deals……

What this Black hole of shopping really is…… Is selling out God for Mammon!

A little history lesson.

The history of Thanksgiving  starts in America in1621 celebrated at Plymouth in  Massachusetts. The 1621 Plymouth thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest, following the cruelest year, an early American Settlement could dish out!

“THANKS GOD! “

Then none other than General George Washington, then head big cheese of the Continental Army,

John ‘Big Sig’ Hancock

and others in the Continental Congress each gave thanks to God

… Thankful for His favor in their Revolutionary efforts.

Then a Presidential Proclamation!

“as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God”

~President George Washington
November 26, 1789

Thanksgiving was first celebrated on the same date by all states in 1863 by a presidential proclamation of Abraham Lincoln.  Lincoln proclaimed the date to be the final Thursday in November, hopeful to foster a sense of American unity between the Northern and Southern states.

Thanksgiving through our early heritage as a nation had always been a time to thank God! 

Or as in Good Ole Abe’s desire, that our thanks of all God had done in our country would unite us.

Then on Dec 26, 1941 Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed  a joint resolution of Congress cementing the 4th Thursday of November as THE day of thanksgiving!  Two years earlier, Roosevelt had used a presidential proclamation to try to achieve this change, reasoning that earlier celebration of the holiday would give the country an economic boost.

Yes….. The 1st time in US history that Thanksgiving became about not having enough!

Now we’ve got that new holiday, Black Friday, which is actually a state holiday in California,  go figure!  They actually celebrate, “The Day After Thanksgiving “,  ………… nice distinction.

The Black in black Friday signifies  the date in which retailers finally get “in the black”,  or make a profit!

The term  originated in Philadelphia, around 1961,where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving. It began to see broader use outside Philadelphia around 1975.

Ah yes the city of brotherly love is responsible for a new national holiday  known for attracting aggressive crowds, willing to assault, shoot, and trample on other shoppers in an attempt to get the best deal on whatever it is, they don’t have, or need in order to feel thankful….. Or at least fulfilled, till the next need arises, BEFORE supplies run out !!!!

So my memory as a child is correct….. WE actually celebrated Thanksgiving unencumbered by the greed of Black Friday.   I can still hear my parents bemoaning the encroachment of Black Friday in the ’70’s, it wasn’t just some idealistic childhood memory….. It was true…….. Americans used to thank God for what THEY HAD!!!

Today sales even start before Thanksgiving.

Hello AMERICA!!!! We live in a country that whether you choose to except it or not has been blessed beyond any other in the history of the world!  by GOD, Yet we live as if we haven’t!!?

We want, want, want….. And if I’m honest…… I’m right there with you,  but, we are so blessed and….. so unthankful, that we are at great risk, if not already there, of being the most cursed of any nation in history.

This life we live…. Is not about getting, it’s about giving. All good things are given by God!

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:16-17
New International Version (NIV)

We are deceiving ourselves. We are putting the things before the Creator of the things.

We have created a false narrative that we are the makers of our own Happiness, and the things we acquire provide that happiness, but that’s a lie!

The dichotomy observed on Thanksgiving /Black Thursday, proves the point.

Those content to Thank God, for His giving, on Thanksgiving are just that content to have the blessings God has provided (at least in theory)…..

However….. It is becoming increasingly more apparent that in our country, the masses are leaning towards a give me, give me, give me mentality, never seen in a more prescient display, than the Chaotic struggle observed on Black Friday!

Seriously! 

We should,….. only…. be thankful, on that 4th Thursday in November ……

No check that…… on everyday, because Black Friday….. means nothing…… when celebrating Thanksgiving in the light of Good Friday.

Thought to ponder as you sojourn through this Christmas season ; How content are you with your life? That contentment isfound only in the peace that passes all understanding, which culminates in the one gift that truly makes Black Friday obsolete!

Jesus and his gift given on Good Friday!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Phil. 4:6–7)