Gratitude or Greed?

Greed causes fighting;
    trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.

Proverbs 28:25 

 

Is it just me, or do the Christmas decorations and "Black Friday Previews" seem to come earlier and earlier?  I was having coffee (go figure) with a friend (yes, I have friends) and said, "We should just do away with all the holidays from September until February and have just ONE holiday celebrated throughout the month of December."  Surprisingly, they agreed with the idea.  It seems like we can't get through Labor Day before the Christmas ads start creeping out and it only increases.

 

When I was a child, I was given the Sears Wish Book and got to choose 3 items I hoped for that were less than $50 and I may get one of them or something completely different that my parents thought more appropriate.  Then there were the requisite clothes, socks, and underwear.  Oddly enough, at my age now, the prospect of socks, t-shirts, and underwear are the most exciting part for me.  Toys and gadgets, while appreciated and enjoyed) come in second place.

 

But year after year, we see hordes of people lining up in front of stores sometimes for days, just to get the few specially priced items stores use to tempt shoppers.  Then when the doors open, chaos ensues!  People begin to stampede and trample other human beings.  Fights break out over STUFF!  Insanity becomes the rule of the day!  And it's fueled by GREED!  And then there are the overwhelmed store employees who have to try to deal with the mobs of greedy, frustrated, angry, demanding people who act as though no one matters except them.

 

We seem to have completely forgotten to be grateful and thankful because GREED takes over and we lose our wits.  For some Greed is a sport.  For some, Greed is a lifestyle.  But in the end, Greed is nothing more than GREED!

 

Learn to be grateful.  Gratitude is a gift that will continue to give and has no expiration date.  It cannot be purchased because it is a free DECISION!