Thanksgiving is one holiday that I just love because it's about nothing more than the food and the attitude. Giving Thanks. Eating the turkey and all the sides, and groaning from the amazing bounty.
It also brings to mind those who don't have such an amazing bounty, and begins what I like to think of as the Season of Giving. Charitable donations go up, people collect and distribute food to the disadvantaged, friendliness toward our fellow man goes up (not everywhere, but lots of places, keep your eyes open for the opportunities!!)
Of course there's that Black Friday thing going on too... I boycott that big time! I absolutely abhor that stores are open on THURSDAY for Black Friday. For goodness sake, what about those retail workers?? Don't they get to enjoy Thanksgiving too??
OK, I'm better now.
Thanksgiving used to mean the beginning of the Christmas season. These days it's stuck in there between Christmas in July and the real deal. Some people complain that Christmas decorations go up way too soon and the stuff in the stores is out there before Halloween!
I sympathize with them, you want to enjoy each season in turn, right? But the ATTITUDES of thanks-giving and Christmas should be year round, don't you agree?
We should care for each other and be kind on a daily basis. Also on a daily basis we should be thankful for everything we have, whether it's little or much. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17. This I firmly believe! I am blessed, and following all these blessings comes the obligation to be a blessing to others.
Opportunities, people. They exist, look around. Find one and take it. You will also benefit in many more ways than you can imagine. I like Engineers Without Borders, The Salvation Army, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, my church, my Quilters groups, and others. You find one or two that you like and see how it works.
One thing I'm not sure I'm thankful for is the endless and I do mean endless stream of mushy Christmas themed movies on the not one but two Hallmark channels that we get. DH loves Christmas or at least used to love all things Christmas but now loves only certain parts. He's no longer thrilled with the decorating but that Hallmark Channel!! Oh, does he love that!
Reindeer Games. Enchanted Christmas. A Boyfriend for Christmas. A Bride for Christmas. A Cookie Cutter Christmas. A Christmas Detour. The Sweetest Christmas. The Mistletoe Inn. Switched for Christmas. Finding Santa. The Christmas Train. On and on. And on...
Multiple showings, multiple viewings. By the time Christmas comes, I'll be heartily over it. Give me a dose of murder and mayhem, quick, before I die of a sugar induced coma!!
I have thus far avoided the radio, with its marathon of holiday tunes.
Not that I am being a scrooge about it. I do love the holidays. I just wish that the feeling would be distributed over the whole year instead of all piled up in one two month glut and then nothing. It's the attitude we need to spread! Giving Thanks all year round, and keeping Christmas all year too.
I'm working on it!
On a side note, this year I celebrated (?) 20 years of work for the same company, although with mergers and name changes that designation is debatable. I guess that's what kept it interesting!!
And my Friday Night Sewing Family recently assisted my dear auntie in almost completing an amazing new quilt pattern and technique. It's a quilt as you go, so finishing will be done in a way none of us has used before. It should be fun!
Give on...
