This Week # 13 (11-30-03)

Shopping
Thanksgiving is over! And, thank goodness, for some of us, the Friday after Thanksgiving is over. If you missed the 6am-11am sales on Friday last, well, you surely did miss a lot of stuff that was priced unreasonably low, pretty good quality, lots of variety, and most of which you did not need or probably even want. But who can pass up a bargain that good? I saw a 19inch, flat screen TV for $100. Wow! A couple of Daisy air rifles (the really good ones) for the boys at $19.95, is one good deal. (I am sorry I missed that one.) All you had to do was get up early, negotiate the traffic, stand in the line, forgive a couple of ole ladies (or men, I’ll be in trouble either way), and hope they had more of the items than the mandatory few that went to the people who got in line Thursday after the ball game.
In case you can’t tell, Christmas is coming! And if I know the enemy (and I do), he will be hard at work getting us psyched up about a lot of stuff that looks good, sounds good, and serves no purpose at all other than separating us from our money. Now please don’t misunderstand, everybody ought to get a gift from everyone who ought to give a gift. But it is too easy to overspend, get deeper in debt, pile up the financial worries for next year, and end up with so much discomfort, we hate to see the season coming around again.
So what’s a fella to do? I am not sure I am the best counselor, being that some say I am as tight as the bark on a tree, but here’s my counsel. Ask the Father what to do. Does that sound strange? He started the giving, you know! And He gave us His very best. I think sometimes, with all the hype, we have lost sight of giving the very best. Why not trying giving friendship this year. Give something you made or wrote. Give a hug to the person who would least expect it. Give llove to everyone you meet and know. Give God some more of your valuable time, and give generous amounts of that time to others as well, like your spouse, or your children, grandchildren, friends, co-workers, and whoever else might cross your path.
And be sure to give your testimony to some who will hear it. The first gift was a Savior, and that gift is still being given today as we share our faith with others.

© Weaver 2003