I do not go shopping on Black Friday. I used to years ago. More like decades. I used to enjoy getting out and enjoying all the Christmas decorations and people watching. But then It changed. Christmas is out by September. You can get what you need online, and I find that mom and pop shops are more fun to shop in person than the big retail stores. So, my habits changed to decorating my house for Christmas and watching feel good Christmas movies. It is far more enjoyable. All to say that I avoid shopping on Black Friday.
However, this year, I found I had some things I needed to pick up at a couple of stores so off we went. My grandson was VERY excited about going. To him Black Friday is as big an event as Christmas. I had a feeling I was going to be a big disappointment to him. I needed to go to Home Depot and Target. That was it. And that is what we did. The entire time my grandson is telling me I should buy this or that thing because it was on sale, and I would save money! I told him I would save even more if I didn’t buy it at all. And he would give me a very funny look.
He changed tactics and began to tell me I should buy this or that thing for him because again, it was on sale. And I would tell him (trying very hard not to laugh) that he needed to put those things on his Christmas list. The funny look would reappear each time.
Finally, as we were getting ready to check out at Target, and in complete exasperation, my grandson stopped, turned to look at me and said: “Yaya, Black Friday is all about shopping and spending money! You aren’t spending money!” No, sweet boy, I am not.
I find the older I get the less I seem to want or need. In fact, I am trying to get rid of the things I no longer use so I spend a little bit of time each week purging something even if it is only a drawer. Although to be honest, my kitchen junk drawer seems to be on auto fill. Every time I clean it out, the next time I open it, it is just as full as it ever was!
It seems to me a sad thing that Black Friday kicks off the Christmas season. Which is in part why I am a Black Friday drop-out. Years ago, I made the conscious decision to find other ways to begin my Christmas. So, this year I have two events. The first happened last night where I got to narrate the Christmas story while a small orchestra ensemble and choir played and sang. And then I will go to see the Special Gathering performance of the Christmas story on December 1.
Just so you know, Special Gathering is a worshipping community of people who were born with Downs or have had a Traumatic Brain Injury. They are amazing and it would not be Christmas without seeing their version of the Christmas story. I hope that you find ways that are meaningful to you to begin your Christmas season and they help you see how much you are loved by God.
Peace,
Pastor Beth
Beth's Blog 