What a difference a day makes!

Black Friday, because only in America do people trample each other for cheap goods hours after being thankful for what they already have.
~Unknown~

Isn't that quote just the truth!  A mere 24 hours ago, we were all about being thankful for what we have.  Today, that's all but forgotten. Today, it's about finding the biggest and best thing we can't afford to give to people we probably don't give much thought to throughout the year on a day that seems to have lost its meaning for most people.

Why do we do this?  My first guess would be that it's based on selfishness and a poor sense of self-worth.  Huh? Giving to others is selfish? Poor self-worth?  I'm kidding, right?  Nope.  How many people - and we all know them - buy gifts for others just because they think it's expected or because they think it makes them look good?  Have you ever heard someone say, while shopping, "oh this is good enough"?  Lord knows, I have.  And, of course, there's the mentality that if someone gives to us, then we have to give equal or better to them - right? Oh, so WRONG!

My second guess - and it really goes hand in hand with the first - is that society has dictated that we make our Christmas big - big gifts, big parties, big decorations, big food, big debt.  It's more than 'keeping up with the Joneses'.  It's about OUTDOING the Joneses.

A few years ago, my family stopped exchanging gifts on Christmas.  I really thought I'd be disappointed the first year there was nothing under the tree except was was bought for children.  To my pleasant surprise, it was one of the best Christmases ever.  There was no stress, no debt and a true sense of what's important. Not only that, but when it stops being about getting things - and they really are just things - there's virtually no disappointment that you didn't get everything you wanted as well as the most or the best.

The following year, I started a new tradition - one I wish I'd done when my sons were little.  I made a special cake and decorated it for Jesus' birthday.  Before cutting the cake, I gathered everyone around and we all sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.  It was a simple gesture but one that reminded us all of what the day is REALLY about.  It's only been 3 or 4 years that I've been doing that but it seems to be expected that I'll do it now.  I love that!

I was out shopping a couple of weeks ago and saw something that I thought my husband would like.  I remember this conversation in my head: "I'll wait and give it to him for Christmas.  No, we don't do gifts so why wait?"  It's such a liberating feeling to give presents when you WANT to - not when you HAVE to.  I have a new - renewed? - appreciation for Christmas now.  My wish is that everyone would quit being greedy and selfish and discover their own appreciation.

Oh yeah - I'm still thankful today for everything I was thankful for yesterday.  Are you?