Thankful…Not Thankful

Just a few days ago I purchased this adorable bird. I find this kind of decoration adorable. Imagine my surprise when it rang up at 75 percent off! Um…pardon me? We are less than a week past Halloween, and nowhere near to Thanksgiving, but this clearly Thanksgiving-ish decoration is 75 percent off? What gives?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a good deal! But this got me thinking…what happened to Thanksgiving? Christmas decorations have been out in some stores since July, a fact I find more than a bit unsettling. However, where are we as a nation, if we are not grateful for all the blessings bestowed on us? Even leaving God out of the equation, which I find almost impossible due to my own beliefs, but even then are we not blessed?

Are we perfect? Seriously? No. Of course we are not! But are we blessed? Absolutely! Am I biased thinking that America is a great place to live? Maybe, but I am very grateful to God that He allowed me to be born and live here. When did we lose that?

Are the only holidays that count the ones that make big corporations lots of money? Is it like this in all countries of the world? When did everything become about the almighty dollar? Was it always like this here? Am I just naive to think that God and His creations matter more than making a buck? What if we could go back to simpler times? Times when God came first, family next, and then country? Where money didn’t make the world go ’round, but rather God?

I realize that there are many people out there who do not share my beliefs. That is your choice. God made us all with free will, even if some of us use that to not even believe in His existence. I know. I have a child who struggles mightily with His existence and how He let horrible things happen to them and to all of us. I get it. That is trauma.

That doesn’t mean that He was not crying right along with us at what sin can do. It doesn’t mean that He didn’t want to stop it and put an end to the person who was perpetrating it. Free will. I think of it as a blessing; child #3 thinks of it as a curse. Maybe it can be both, but God can and does turn all things to His and His servants’ good.

Please, this Thanksgiving, think about for what and whom you are grateful. Don’t let big business take away your joy in loving your neighbor! I would rather pay full price for my little birdie and have everyone truly see the meaning and love behind giving thanks than to have Thanksgiving run over because it doesn’t make enough money for your local corporate store!