Make Thanksgiving sincere day of thankfulness
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Editor,
Most folks haven’t the foggiest idea about the origin of “Black Friday,” nor had I until I became interested in knowing where the name originated. I learned that some financiers endeavored to corner the gold market on Sept. 24, 1869, which led President Grant to release for sale government gold which caused the price of gold to plummet and the stock market to crash. Citizens panicked. The country experienced a frightening catastrophe.
Today, “Black Friday” is the day after Thanksgiving when major retail stores open their doors for people who want to get a corner on the Christmas market. Eager shoppers sleep in tents on the sidewalks for several days and nights in order to be the first in line for the substantial savings that are being offered by retailers. TV news clips indicate the panic that occurs the moment the stores are opened. Retailers try to get the jump on other retailers by adjusting their scheduled opening. The competition in the Christmas market increases every year and true Thanksgiving is lost in the frenzy to corner the shopping market.
Am I missing something? Have we lost the heart of Thanksgiving? Has Black Friday and so called “turkey day” and the NFL cornered the market on our heartfelt expressions of giving thanks? Does our feasting outdo our Thanksgiving? Are we just “gonna flow with the status quo”? Or will you and I make this Thanksgiving Day, truly a day of giving thanks to God for his enduring love (John 3:16), grace (we receive what we do not deserve), mercy (we do not receive what we do deserve), peace (“I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid,” John 14:27 NLT); and for so many other blessings? Thank you reader, I’m sure you will.
Harvey A. Town
Polson
