Like being off to the races
How Black Friday got its name is more theory than fact. The term Black Friday originated when two speculators, Jay Gould and James Fisk, created a ‘boom and bust’ in gold prices. These men tried to manipulate the market on gold, in order to get rich, but instead caused a stock market crash. It was labeled Black Friday because so many people lost all their investments, plunging them into poverty. The term was later penned to the day after Thanksgiving, by the Philadelphia Police Department, who used it to describe the traffic jams and crowding in the downtown stores. Some say the Black Friday term was used by retailers, who operated in the red most of the year, but whose revenue increased the day after Thanksgiving, which push them into the black for the year. Every year the retail market gets a huge boost in sales. Last year it was estimated that stores generated close to $682 billion in revenue between Black Friday and Christmas Day. A large part of the success of Black Friday is due to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade which began in 1924. Their “after Thanksgiving Day sales” was an easy way to entertain guest from out-of-town, which began a tradition all its own.
Competition spurs this minor holiday, enticing people to save money on their Christmas gifts, by taking advantage of the deals that can only be found on Black Friday. How many people buy on impulse, instead of using a strategic shopping list? How many of the things bought during this flurry and excitement of shopping are returned within a week? Better yet, how many gifts purchased were necessary at all? After our meal, and snacking yesterday, how many of us groaned saying I ate too much? How many wondered where they were going to put all the leftovers, because the refrigerator is packed so tight they could not close the door? How much time and money was spent on your Thanksgiving supper? Would it still have been considered a Thanksgiving supper if you served grilled cheese and tomato soup?
Well there is a certain adrenaline flow and excitement about being out among the horde of shoppers on Black Friday. How much more rewarding would it be if you went to a local business and took wishes off each Christmas tree, and bought gifts for the underprivileged children in your community? Or how about going grocery shopping as if you were buying food for your Thanksgiving Day, and take it to your local food pantry, so others can have a meal similar to the one you just had yesterday. Before you go out shopping today, I challenge you to go into your children’s bedroom, or their toy room, look in their closet and under their bed, and see what they really need. Perhaps what they really need is to be taught how to think of and serve others. Instead of writing a Christmas wish list, they can write a Christmas giving list. As we sat around our Thanksgiving tables yesterday, we thought about how thankful we are to have family and friends and a bounty of food, let us now show that gratitude toward others. Let’s use Black Friday as an opportunity to buy gifts and food for the needy. It’ll make you feel good inside and out.
As parents it is our job to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas. The whole purpose of giving gifts at Christmas is to emulate the greatest gift this world ever received, the gift of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son. We use the holiday of Thanksgiving as a tradition to gather around a table and tell how we are grateful for the people in our lives. Begin a tradition during your Christmas season, by gathering around and reading the Christmas story together, learning what a precious gift the birth of Jesus was.
We as authors, often use the term, “the miracle of Christmas,” as a way having our characters get what they want, in the form of romance, or a new job etc.. The true miracle of Christmas has been, and always will be, the birth of the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ. Let us authors, always keep the reverence of Christmas both in our homes and our writings.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
I JOHN 3:16-17
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Matthew 10:42
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Matthew 18:5
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9-10
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:35
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:38