A Time to Thank
Recently I've seen quite a number of people saying they're upset with Christmas decorations being set out in stores before Thanksgiving. They want retailers to wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate and display goods for Christmas.
For years now my Christmas present shopping got put off until the second week of December because when I did more teaching we were busy grading big final papers and doing computations for final grades. Shopping was delayed and one year my tree didn't even get put up until a few days before Christmas. I just felt I didn't get much of the joy of the season that year.
Then, too, even my mother complained that I hadn't participated much in the festivities. Annoyed, she actually said, "The holidays have suffered since you became a teacher. You always get sick during the holidays." Ouch. But then again, the family had gotten too used to me being the family caretaker and making the holidays special for them...they needed to step up to the plate and do some things like helping prepare the big dinners.
And it sure wasn't fun to be sick, let me tell you. There was the Christmas I got a horrible case of pneumonia and spent nearly six weeks in bed. A few days before Christmas I found a string of lights in the closet, draped them over the canopy bed and the bookcase, and put a foot high tree already decorated on the little tv in the bedroom -- and had to climb back into bed. I wouldn't allow anyone to come exchange presents but my grown daughter insisted. The two of us sat in our coats on the front patio and opened them there so she wouldn't come inside and catch my germs.
Later, I heated up a frozen turkey and dressing tv dinner and got back in bed...that was my holiday. Pretty pathetic, right?
So I am putting up my tree tomorrow because I don't have to wait until Thanksgiving to show gratitude. I do that each and every day. And doing some things to invite Christmas in before Thanksgiving won't change that. If I sound defensive, it's because I wish that people would stop trying to tell others what to do. I know some people whose tree was up in the middle of summer and people in the neighborhood thought that was terrible. Well, this family's Christmas with their son in the military had been postponed. They were waiting for him and the wait stretched out until summer...
I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and keep gratitude in your heart every day because that's more important than just one day in November.
That's just my opinion! : ) I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Blessings,
Barbara
True, it is everyone's own choice about when they select to decorate or shop. Some of us feel like we are being cheated out of the other fall holidays with Christmas "shopping" being crammed at us. I don't mind the early decorations at all. It does bother me though when retailers push so hard to get people shopping early. When I read the paper each day, I begin to feel panicked that I'm not already finished with my shopping from what I am reading. That's really a bummer to me. I also wish Christmas would not be so commercialized and there would be more focus on the meaning of the holiday instead of the presents we exchange.
My sister-in-law's family leave their tree up year round because its ornaments, lights, ribbons etc. match their decor. It looks lovely being there all the time.
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Thank you, Barbara. Wise words!
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I FEEL LIKE IT IS UP TO THE PERSON WHEN AND WERE THEY SET UP THINGS FOR ANY OF THE HOLIDAYS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO JUST MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME BEFORE THE HOLDAYS AND IT IS NICE TO HAVE THINGS SET UP SO THEY CAN SHARE WITH YOU. SO PEOPLE SET UP AN BUY AS YOU ARE ABLE THAT IS ANOTHER REASON PEOPLE HAVE TO REALLY BUDGET THESE LAST YEARS SO IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT THEY GET TO SEE THINGS ON SALE WHEN AN IF THEY ARE LUCKY TO HAVE MONEY AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WHO KNOWS IT MIGHT NOT BE THERE LATER. SO EVERYONE DO WHAT AN WHEN YOU FEEL RIGHT ABOUT IT. I KNOW SINCE I AM ALONE I LIKE TO SEE WHAT OTHERS DO WITH DECORATION SINCE I DON'T HAVE A HOUSE BUT A APT. NOW. JUST THANK GOD THAT YOU ARE ALIVE AN CAN DO THINGS AT YOUR OWN SPEED.
THANK YOU HAVE A GREAT UP COMING HOLIDAYS ALWAYS KAREN
p.s. I am a infant teacher five days a week ten or more hours a day some times.
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Just-- retired from teaching and I so totally "get it" -- I really do. The last 4-5 yrs before retiring - due to fatigue and more -- I started putting up my tree the week BEFORE Thanksgiving and oh how that much helped. Finally have learned to also decorate family graves the first pretty Sat. in Nov. instead of trying to do that between Thanksgiving and Christmas -- that has helped. My tree is up now...with still a few more wee ornaments AND my mantle though and one table still has my Thanksgiving "stuff"....it's all good.
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Hurrah I am so happy I am not the only one who feels this way. People need to remember that the stores also are trying to get things out so those who need to put things on lay a way can pay for them and their are shoppers who like to get their shopping done early so they can enjoy the rest of the season . Just saying there are reasons for things even though they may not be obvious . Just Chill and enjoy the season. Merry Christmas . Hugs
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Barbara, Thanks for your opinion re. early Christmas commercializing. You have given us a lot to think about. Our judgmental attitudes toward others need to be re-evaluated every now and then! We are responsible to God for just one person - ourself.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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Hey, I'm with you! You never know what another family is doing something for. If I could, I'd like to leave my stuff up all year to remind me more of how much better the world can be. It just seems there's more love & compassion at Christmastime!
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Barbara, I enjoyed reading your post this morning. We had a family in our church who's son was in a terrible car wreck during the Christmas Season. He was a vegetable after that having to have someone to do every deed for him. His mother and father left their Christmas tree up until late in that summer trying to trigger a reaction from their disabled son. He died several years later. God help us to be merciful in our judgements of others and their actions. I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas this year!
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Thanks Barbara.....good article....you just said what I was thinking.....I think a lot of people feel this way....don't talk about people who leave their Christmas Tree up longer than you did...you don't know the reason they did.....and I would do the same thing if I wanted too....what's gets me about Christmas is so many people in life and on tv always say have a nice holiday, etc....not me I say Have a nice Christmas or Merry Christmas.....this is what it is all about.....I hate watching QVC during the Christmas season....even the host says Holiday....I think Mary Beth might be the only one that says Merry Christmas....if you live in our country you need to respect the way we handle Christmas.....I never write xmas either...I want Christ in my Christmas and it will be......so hope others do the same... Merry Christmas to you Barbara and Merry Christmas to all Amish Living friends on here......
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