Disappearing concept of being greatful troubling

link Clyde Davis

"Here’s some heartening news for those of you who can’t think of a worse way to spend Thanksgiving Day than bargain hunting at your local mall: you’re not alone.

“For every store succumbing to pressure to remain open, there’s an individual, group or business working to halt the ‘holiday creep’ threatening to turn Thanksgiving Day into an extension of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales bonanza." — Forbes Magazine

It is pressure, of course; a store owner may, with perhaps some reason, believe that if their store is not open, huge revenue will be lost.

Whether that revenue would be offset by public good will is a question to be answered, not in one season, but over the course of several. That this story emerges very near the top on a web search for Thanksgiving does lend credence to the idea it is very present on the public 's mind.

I'm not going to address the pros and cons. I would not wish to offend readers of my column who own stores, and I would not presume to know the ins and outs. I do know that many employees, as I probably would be, are grateful for the extra bonus pay earned and willing to rearrange their own celebration of gratitude so they can work. Thanksgiving in our family is being celebrated today, so who am I to say the day is itself sacred?

What I do want to address is the concept of gratitude. In our family, the gratitude is given to God, but your freedom allows such to be expressed to whomever — Nature, Allah, or whatever altar you might lay your thanks. The key element, to me, has to do with that disappearing concept of grateful.

Perhaps it lies with a sense of entitlement that seems to pervade our society. I grew up with a sense of entitlement, too; you are entitled to have a job and work for a living. (Even that may be a spoiled approach; not all are lucky enough to have a job, nor the capabilities to work.)

It seems, though, the realization of how one has been blessed ought to be at the center of this proclaimed holiday, and one wonders if it is in danger of being upstaged.

The purchasing of presents or gifts is of paramount importance to me, make no mistake. I love to spoil those whom I love, and I have never been in an income bracket where I could afford to pass up a bargain or a sale.

But the breathless rush to rush headlong into the season should not supercede a welcome pause, reflection, and expression of gratitude. I am grateful for turkey, football, and parades, but the true blessings do not come only on that one day. Beloved family, valuable friends, relatively awesome health, and a career where I at least believe I can make the world and others' lives better — these are the true blessings.

I hope that our friends who must work retail have the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving at some other scheduled time.

Clyde Davis is a Presbyterian pastor and teacher at Clovis High School. He can be contacted at:

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