I think I have just watched one of the most disturbing video clips surrounding this year’s hyped-up Black Friday Sales. You can watch it below at the end of this post.
To top it off, I also saw an ad today claiming that the one who shops Black Friday early (by shopping on Thanksgiving Day, no less) will be a “Hero to their kids”.
What?? Really?
I’ll be the first to admit that I am a novice—a true novice—at being the mother that my children need me to be, let alone a hero. But I do know that something is wrong, when a parent becomes a “hero” for focusing on shopping for the children on Black Friday, to the exclusion of Thanksgiving.
A hero, by definition, is a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. (Dictionary.com)
A parent is a hero when they love a child who is wayward, who is struggling, who is rebellious.
A parent is a hero when they are trying to be courageous, doing what has to be done, in order to provide for their family.
A parent is a hero when they are willing to listen to a child tell the same joke or story 101 times.
A parent is a hero when, however imperfectly, they strive to make Thanksgiving Day just that—a Day of being thankful for each other and for God’s gracious provision over the past year.
Materialism is so rampant in today’s world. If you get the newspaper tomorrow, I imagine what you will find is that it is chock full of the latest, the greatest, the best, the newest, the must-haves for the season.
Don’t get me wrong, I long to give good things, fun things, to my children. I so easily fall into the materialism trap. I am the farthest, the FARTHEST thing from a hero.
But I think the video posted below and the seemingly excessive bombardment this year of Black Friday and Cyber Monday ads is a wake-up call.
Hebrews 10:34b states:
“you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.”
I JOYFULLY accepted the plundering of my property—does that mean that I desire for my property to be plundered? No, I don’t think so. But I do think that the last part of this verse puts my property, the Christmas gifts I desire to buy for my children, and life here on earth into perspective: I have, and I hope–I pray–my children will have, a better possession and an abiding one, but not here. I long to go home.
May you have a beautiful Thanksgiving with your family. I’m a lousy cook, but I am grateful for a day of thankfulness and time with my children–even if the turkey is dry and the pies get burned. 🙂
Colossians 2:6-7
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
To top it off, I also saw an ad today claiming that the one who shops Black Friday early (by shopping on Thanksgiving Day, no less) will be a “Hero to their kids”.
What?? Really?
I’ll be the first to admit that I am a novice—a true novice—at being the mother that my children need me to be, let alone a hero. But I do know that something is wrong, when a parent becomes a “hero” for focusing on shopping for the children on Black Friday, to the exclusion of Thanksgiving.
A hero, by definition, is a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. (Dictionary.com)
A parent is a hero when they love a child who is wayward, who is struggling, who is rebellious.
A parent is a hero when they are trying to be courageous, doing what has to be done, in order to provide for their family.
A parent is a hero when they are willing to listen to a child tell the same joke or story 101 times.
A parent is a hero when, however imperfectly, they strive to make Thanksgiving Day just that—a Day of being thankful for each other and for God’s gracious provision over the past year.
Materialism is so rampant in today’s world. If you get the newspaper tomorrow, I imagine what you will find is that it is chock full of the latest, the greatest, the best, the newest, the must-haves for the season.
Don’t get me wrong, I long to give good things, fun things, to my children. I so easily fall into the materialism trap. I am the farthest, the FARTHEST thing from a hero.
But I think the video posted below and the seemingly excessive bombardment this year of Black Friday and Cyber Monday ads is a wake-up call.
Hebrews 10:34b states:
“you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.”
I JOYFULLY accepted the plundering of my property—does that mean that I desire for my property to be plundered? No, I don’t think so. But I do think that the last part of this verse puts my property, the Christmas gifts I desire to buy for my children, and life here on earth into perspective: I have, and I hope–I pray–my children will have, a better possession and an abiding one, but not here. I long to go home.
May you have a beautiful Thanksgiving with your family. I’m a lousy cook, but I am grateful for a day of thankfulness and time with my children–even if the turkey is dry and the pies get burned. 🙂
Colossians 2:6-7
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.