“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34
Years ago, my wife, Amanda, talked me into going shopping with her. Shopping with Amanda is dangerous and stressful enough, but we went shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving—Black Friday.
The name "Black Friday" sounds awful. It brings to mind being blackmailed, the black plague, and the black death. It doesn't sound good.
Black Friday has always puzzled me. Why is it that on Black Friday, Americans are willing to kill over materialistic items just one day after celebrating what they are already thankful for?
I have heard that "Black Friday" refers to the pattern of pedestrian and vehicle traffic that hits large cities. However, that is not true. Retailers coined the term to describe the day of the year when their shops go from being in the red to being profitable or in the black.
Black Friday has become the most significant day for shopping online and in retail stores. Last year, on Black Friday, Americans spent an average of $938.58 per shopper and $655.8 billion overall. Years ago, before our children were born, Amanda talked me into shopping with her on Black Friday. For the first and last time, I went shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
At first, I thought it would be fun, might become a family tradition, and we might do a little shopping. Then, we would hang out and have breakfast. I thought it would be a nice way to spend time with my wife, but I was wrong.
The day started out okay. We got up early before dawn. We had coffee. Then we went to Walmart at 5 in the morning. I have never seen anything like what I saw that morning. Three hundred people lined up, waiting for Walmart to open. I can't get three hundred people to get up that early and see a new believer baptized. Man! I can't even get thirty people to get up that early and see a new believer baptized. Truthfully, I can't even get three people to get up that early and see a new believer get baptized.
When they opened the doors, I was almost trampled by a wild pack of shoppers. Inside the store, the situation wasn't any better. I made the mistake of standing in front of a door-buster sign. People pushed me out of the way to get to a video game on sale.
They wheeled out a blue flashing light. Grown men and women ran from all over the store to the blue light to get a Tickle Me Elmo Toy.
Two women almost got into a fistfight. They were both going after the last coat on a 50% off rack. All over the store, people were running, pushing, shoving, fighting, and cussing. I’m telling you, those people were crazy.
The point is that we have lost our way. On that Black Friday, I realized America had become a nation that has slipped away from worshipping God to worshiping material things. One day, after giving thanks to God for all their blessings, Americans fought over TVs and toasters. On the day that kicks off the Christmas season, Americans act anything but Christ-like. It's a disappointing shift from the true spirit of Christmas.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, let us pause and thank Almighty God for all His blessings. Let us reflect on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as we decorate for Christmas. Let us spend quality time with family and friends. It is okay to go shopping, but don't let the shopping come between you and your relationship with God.
Besides, I have discovered that Black Friday equals Broke Saturday.
