Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Holiday Madness

It isn't even Thanksgiving yet and already they are playing Christmas music on the radio. The Christmas trees have arrived in Hawaii. The city is putting up the decorations in time for the City Lights parade. The stores are heavily advertising Black Friday which will begin late Thanksgiving. I even overheard someone wishing another person "Merry Christmas" !

This is crazy!

An employee of one of the stores participating in Black Friday has started a petition not to open the stores on Thanksgiving because it cuts into their holiday time with their families.  Good for him!

Thanksgiving Day is a day to remember to give thanks to God for all our blessings. No matter how many problems and crosses each one of us has, we have so many things for which to be grateful.  How meaningful will our thanks be if we rush through Thanksgiving anxious to get on that ever growing line, waiting for the stores to open their door?  Do you really think we will find peace and tranquility while we wait?

Our families will benefit more with being together; leisurely enjoying each others company. Instead of leaving the festivities early to go the store that night,  perhaps we should go to bed early so we can attend early morning Mass. There are so many meaningful ways to prepare for Christmas and the first should be preparing ourselves this Advent.

I wish there would be a rush to get inside the church's doors for Mass on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It is still a holiday for most people but the traffic is heavy at the early hour when I go to Mass. Sad to say, that most of them are heading to a Black Friday sale while our Lord waits patiently for them to visit Him.

He's waiting for us to visit Him.

9 comments:

Maryellen said...

Dear Esther, thanks for putting my thoughts to paper. It's one of my pet peeves.

It's bad enough that municipalities and public places are rushing the season,
but here in our Assisted Living Facility, Christmas tunes and even some hymns are being played at meal-times. I am debating whether or not to lodge a complaint.
We are a community of 32 residents, and surely several others feel offended by it. (the administration and staff are mostly Christian)
"Merry Christmas" oops I mean Happy Thanksgiving.

Mary N. said...

I am sooo in agreement with you on this post, Esther. It IS crazy!
Sad too.

EC Gefroh said...

Aloha Maryellen!!
I guess they are trying to be cheerful but it just seems wrong, doesn't it?
I hope you and Clinton have a very blessed Thanksgiving.

EC Gefroh said...

Oh, I forgot to mention! I received my first Christmas card today :-)

EC Gefroh said...

Very sad Mary...

Anne said...

My family and I attended Thanksgiving Mass tonight. On the way home we turned on the radio,and there they were, the Christmas tunes. I started to change the station but my kids protested and as "The Little Drummer Boy" by Harry Simone Chorale came on, we all sang along at the top of our lungs. It actually was fun. How does that saying go, "if you can't beat them, join them"? But that was a rare occasion tonight in the car. I agree that Advent (and it's not even that yet!)would be best spent in quiet prayer and preparation instead of early celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving Esther!

EC Gefroh said...

Anne, I know what you mean. I love Christmas carols, religious and secular :-) A very blessed Thanksgiving to all of you.

Mary N. said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Esther! I am thankful that you allow me to thieve your posts on occasion! (Yes, this is my subtle way of saying that I did it again ;) Just linked to it though, not outright thievery! It was a very good post.

Mahalo!

EC Gefroh said...

Thank you Mary. You can use any of my posts anytime you want :-)