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Spouse CallsJoin the conversation with Stripes columnist Terri Barnes, as she explores issues relevant to the lives of military spouses. |
Gratitude for every page on the calendar
Posted November 25th, 2007 by Terri Barnes in
After we came home from Thanksgiving dinner at our friends' home, I was ready to pull out Bing Crosby and Nat "King" Cole and watch "The Little Drummer Boy."
My youngest son said "Mom, it's still Thanksgiving. It's too early for that."
(Click here for the Spouse Calls column about Thanksgiving.)
The next day I asked if anyone wanted to watch "Miracle on 34th Street."
"Mom, it's only the day after Thanksgiving. It's not Christmas yet."
What is wrong with these children? Aren't they in a hurry to leave behind the season of thanks-giving for the season of gift-getting?
Guess not, and maybe I should listen to my children. Being thankful doesn't belong exclusively to one month -- especially one that gets lost between the merchandising blitzes of October and December. November is in danger of being squeezed out altogether.
Why set aside only one day to give thanks for blessings that I enjoy every day?
Thanksgiving belongs on every calendar page.
Thanks God for Some Bright Children
Your children should be commended for having the forethought to realize that Thanksgiving means something other than a day that got in the way of Christmas shopping. Stores and Malls have completely forgotten about Thanksgiving. I remember long ago when all of the brown and orange decorations of Thaksgiving adorned the stores and Malls with pictures of Turkeys and other Thanksgiving ornaments. Now it's sale after sale after sale for Halloween immediately followed by sale after sale after sale for Christmas. Please listen to your children. It brings tears to my eyes to hear that there are still some REAL children left in this world. I don't come to this site but just stumbled upon while on the Stars and Stripes site.
Thanks, thanks, thanks,
Paul
mrpk33@verizon.net
From the mouths of babes
Paul,
Thank you for your nice words about my children. You are right. I did listen to them and was inspired to write about being thankful all year long. It's good to know that learning goes both ways in the parent/child relationship.
Merchandise-driven holidays are nothing new. That's probably why the only place you see Thanksgiving decorations is in the grocery stores.
Every year I love to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas," to renew my quest, along with Charlie Brown for the real meaning of the celebration. I just want to hear Linus say, after reciting the second chapter of Luke, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
From the mouths of babes ...
Blessings for the New Year,
Terri