Get ready, this is a long one! It has started. The invasion has begun. They are storming our fronts. Infiltrating our places of business, work environments, and even our very homes. Their propaganda already plays upon our radio programs. People have begun to dress in their regalia and promote the propaganda themselves. The entire atmosphere of our country changed overnight.
No, I am not talking about a communist invasion. I am not even talking about the election. As of the time I am writing this, the elections have not concluded. I am talking about something much more subtle than politics. Something that has been happening at an increasing rate for decades. I am speaking of the invasion of Christmas.
I walked into Walmart the week before Halloween to buy some groceries and found that already they were stocking for Christmas. Christmas music is already beginning to blare across some radio programs, and the amount of people putting up trees and lights continually astounds me. We hype up Halloween every year, and then tend to gloss right over Thanksgiving as we steam straight ahead towards Christmas.
We go from a state of desire for free candy, to a desire for free stuff; never stopping to be thankful and appreciate the things we have. It is interesting, in comparison to America’s callousness towards their blessings, Japan utilizes their Thanksgiving celebrations to write cards of thanks for their municipal workers. They encourage their citizens to take the time to celebrate the principles of hard work and community involvement.
We as Americans have lost the ability, on a broad level, to be thankful for the blessings we have. We are so focused on what we do not have and what we want, that we refuse to take a moment and thank God for the blessings He has provided for us. Even if we took the day to promote work ethic and community involvement it would make a large difference in America today.
America, we are losing our ability to be content, replacing it with uninhibited greed. The results are catastrophic as continued generations are being raised with the understanding that our desires are paramount. I encourage, nay challenge, you this year to set aside a time for Thanksgiving. Instead of rushing to get to the next self-serving holiday (more on this in a later devotion), stop and take a moment and reflect on the goodness of God.
[1Th 5:18 KJV] 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
[Col 3:15-17 KJV] 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
[Psa 118:1 KJV] 1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: because his mercy [endureth] for ever.