12.23.08

Getting there first!

Posted in Uncategorized at 7:41 pm by mywords

This thought occurred to me on Black Friday or Monday or whatever it was — the first shopping day after the American Thanksgiving when a story came over the radio that somewhere in the US (don’t remember where) a man was trampled to death and several people were sent to hospital when a Walmart opened for the day.

Is getting through the doors first so important that it’s worth killing someone? Apparently this man was over 6 feet tall and was given the post to open the doors, even though he didn’t want to. One of the people taken to hospital was a woman who was 8 months pregnant.

Over the last few days, as “shoppers rush home with their treasures” in between snow storms, this thought has come to me again. Having been cut off twice by people trying to merge, all I could do is shake my head and ask, “Is getting there first really all that important?”

Last week was a wild ride for me as I was out every night and tried to maintain a freelance career and get presents wrapped at the same time.

We really need to learn to slow down and not get so wrapped up rushing. What’s going to happen if that exact thing is not under the tree? If someone is going to be so put out that it isn’t there what does that say about that person – and, if it’s one of our children, what does that say about what we have taught our children.

Sometimes we get too caught up in the gifts – although they are fun (I like giving as much as I like receiving especially with a baby celebrating his first Christmas) – that it overshadows everything else. As a Christian, I try very hard to not let myself get carried away. When I find myself doing that, I have to reel myself in, take a deep breath and say, “It’s okay if we don’t have that thing.”

A couple of months ago, there was one gift for everyone that was going to be it and with my husband working the kinds of shifts he was working, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot for myself. But, some money did come in, recently – actually quite a bit of money – and I was able to purchase a few more things that I wouldn’t have purchased otherwise. So, this Christmas I’m celebrating the first Christmas in over 12 years where we weren’t scrimping and saving and wondering how we were going to pay for Christmas. For the first Christmas in 12 years our bank account is in the black!

My husband arrived home safely from work after several snow storms producing icy road conditions; my children are both healthy; we have a roof over our head, a furnace that works (WOOHOO!!), a church family, and on-line family and the pleasure of counting how many friends I have by the Christmas greetings that are arriving and that I send out.

I heard the most disgusting Christmas song I’d ever heard, yesterday. I don’t know who sings it, but my favorite radio station played this song and it was all about I want everything for Christmas. It had to be the most selfish song I had ever heard. This not too far away from the airing of the song The Christmas Shoes – possibly the most selfless song I’d ever heard. I quickly changed the station disgusted that this song focused so much on getting everything.

As I looked at the gifts wrapped that sat under our tree that my parents had brought, I thought, If those were the only gifts we had for Christmas I would be quite content with that. I had so much to be thankful for.

I challenge you to not let things get carried away. Look at all the things you have going for you. Let’s not be so “get” centered that we forget to be truly thankful.

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