Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Bible Verse:

"Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for God has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"

— Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

I remember one Thanksgiving evening when my family was gathered around the table. The dishes were mostly cleared, and we were sharing the best part—stories and laughs over pie. We had spent the whole day focusing on being grateful for everything we had: our health, our family, and the amazing meal in front of us.

Then, around 7:00 PM, my cousin's phone started buzzing. She looked down, suddenly grabbed her purse, and her whole face changed. "I have to go," she announced, already halfway out of her chair. "The doors open in two hours, and if I don't get in line now, I'll miss the deal on the TV."

In a single moment, the spirit of gratitude, peace, and togetherness that had filled our home was replaced by a look of panicked urgency and the need for a thing. She left our warm, thankful circle to go stand in a cold line, ready to compete with strangers for something she didn't even know she wanted two hours earlier. The peace of Thanksgiving was completely erased by the pressure of Black Friday.

Devotional Thought:

The beautiful thing about Thanksgiving is that it asks us to stop and celebrate what we already possess. It's a holiday of completeness—we have enough, we are blessed.

Then, immediately afterward, Black Friday crashes into us with a message of lack. It tells us we need a bigger TV, a newer phone, or cheaper clothes. It transforms us from thankful people into competitive consumers, often forgetting the very spirit of appreciation we celebrated the day before.

The Bible verse, Hebrews 13:5, gives us the antidote to this rush: Be content with what you have.

This doesn't mean we can never buy things or that we shouldn't save money. It means we should guard our hearts against the love of money and the craving for more. When we are truly content, we don't feel the need to push, shove, or sacrifice our peace just to save a few dollars on something temporary. Our worth and our happiness are not found in the size of the discount we grab, but in the faithful presence of God who promises, "I will never leave you."

This year, when you see the sales, stop for a second. Let the peace of Thanksgiving overflow into Friday. Don't let the pursuit of a "red tag" deal steal the joy of a truly thankful heart.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for all the blessings you have given us. Help us to resist the pressure to always want more. Give us a spirit of contentment and gratitude this weekend, so that we may focus on Your constant love instead of temporary things. Amen.