Gratefulness is the hot button word of the day. If you aren’t reading something encouraging you to give thanks for all you have then you’re reading the Black Friday ads looking for deals.
Isn’t it interesting how we give thanks for what we have one day and then the next buy a bunch more stuff that we probably don’t need?
For better or worse, this is America’s Thanksgiving tradition.
One of the most beautiful aspects of being an American, however, is our autonomy to raise our families and celebrate holidays exactly how we choose. We can create our own traditions and determine how our children experience the holiday.
This Thanksgiving, as scarcity tactics through major retail chains and massive marketing campaigns tempt you into buying the newest, greatest, and largest television, those 8 DVDs (because they’re only $10) or a 5 extra toys your kids don’t actually need – it’s important to remember gratefulness.
Extravagant Black Friday spending doesn’t foster gratitude. In fact, extravagant giving to your children doesn’t foster anything but entitlement. All of the thankfulness we emphasize on Thanksgiving is swiped away with each debit to our credit card.
Black Friday ads will inundate your family today through newspaper, television, radio, and social media. But you can change how you and your children view consumerism and gratitude.
You don’t have to follow the norms of our society. Even if you love shopping you can change your tradition.
Instead of BLACK Friday, let’s call it [Give] BACK Friday.
Instead of shopping for yourself, pick a charity you care about and shop for them.
Whether you feel compassion towards foster children, homeless vets, families in poverty, or pregnant women in crisis – these people all need things to survive. This isn’t just more “stuff” for them like it is for most Americans.
Non-profit organizations who help people in need are always looking for donations, whether to run their organization or to benefit those they serve.
What better use for those discounted toys than for families in poverty?
The blankets, shoes, and socks on sale – grab some for the homeless vets in your community.
Suitcases are often on sale and are great for children in foster care so they don’t have to travel with their possessions inside trash bags.
The nice camera on sale could be used for a non-profit to better promote their organization.
The possibilities for you to give back are endless.
If you don’t know of any non-profit organizations in your city, you can find some who support your family’s passions here: http://greatnonprofits.org/
Teach your children sacrificial giving instead of blind and surrendered consumerism. New X-box’s and Fitbits do not build character – if anything, they build entitlement. Giving builds character.
