Black Friday

It's almost time, I am so excited. I love to shop on Black Friday. I do. I just get all worked up thinking about it. I like getting up early, getting in the spirit and finding bargains. I love running into my friends in similar pursuits and feeling like we are ruler of the retail world. It's just a tremendous rush of adrenaline and makes me feel like life is very good.

I have lots of friends and acquaintances who think I am nuts. They see the pushing, grabbing, long lines. limited parking spaces, large attitudes, small patience moments and find nothing at all adrenaline creating in that. They see it as joy robbing and so frustrating that they can't for the life of them see what it is I get out of all that. I do see the frustrations of course, but somehow I also see the excitement and kind of joy filled energy and it is enough to offset the rest.

There has been much discussion about commercialism of Christmas and how we need to simplify. I agree very much in spirit, but part of the fun for me on Black Friday is not the buying but the shopping, the setting, the search and the discovery of the perfect gift for whoever. It's not because I think we all need more stuff, I think it's because when you find something that someone needs or wants or will make them happy, it's an act of love. Nothing makes me feel more like a hero than finding the perfect gift for someone, watching them open it and get that look of delight. That makes the giving satisfying to me in every sense.

All this gift exchanging is supposed to be a reaction to being so lovingly gifted by God in the giving of Jesus. I know there is no gift I can give that will have this kind of impact, but I sure would love to give with the same kind of heart my Father gives. I enjoy shopping best when I take this thought with me as I look.

So off to the stores I go, fliers in hand. There is a lot of the Christmas Spirit out there, go look for it, or take it with you and leave it behind for others. We have been given a lot, we can afford to be generous in return. Just don't take my parking space or buy the last of whatever it is I might want. There will be no tolerance for the crabby shopper. And yes, God bless us, everyone.