Black Friday

Who came up with that name anyway - Black Friday?  

Shopping with 40,000 of your closest friends

As an old accountant, I get the metaphor - lots of sales drive revenues and put retailers in the "black" side of the ledger (that'd be the positive side for all you non-accountants out there). Julie and I ventured out for about a half an hour yesterday, we got a few things at two stores, then rushed home to avoid the insanity (though it was so nice to just be out together!)  Based on our limited experience, I doubt it will be "black" for most retailers.


Sadly, I think the black is now a better description for people's hearts. I read this morning how ugly people can be.  One woman used pepper spray on fellow shoppers to get an "advantage" at a Walmart — she was after the $100 off an X-Box and of course there was a limited quantity, so a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do, right? Sigh. Hopefully she is now "doing" time in the slammer.


The phrase itself stirs up the memory of blackest of Fridays — Christians call it "Good Friday" — the day that Christ was crucified for all (all of us, and all of our sins - past, present and future). That historical event has the happiest of endings - the empty tomb, the risen Savior, and the promise of defeat of our enemy in the end (the cliff notes version of Revelation = we win).


It seems such a odd juxtaposition to have the busiest shopping day of the year the day after the celebration of Thanksgiving. Sadly most Americans have forgotten how that "day off work to eat a lot of food" came about.  It was, of course, declared a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln in October, 1863 (just before his famous Gettysburg Address by the way). Click here to read it: Thanksgiving Day Proclamation


It definitely worth reading (as are most things Lincoln wrote) - whether for the first time or the 100th. The country was in the midst of the Civil War - torn apart from North to South. I doubt many people felt like celebrating anything. Yet Lincoln, in his wisdom, exhorts the country to set aside "a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens". 


While I can't relate to the horror that was the Civil War - we are in the midst of our our little war against that most insidious disease: cancer. This was a special Thanksgiving celebration for us this year. We have much to be thankful for. It is frequently in the trials of life that we find how much the little things in life matter. How grateful we are for the simple things in life, the truth that we are able to take a another breath - live another day - share another meal - give another good night kiss. In the midst of all the challenges of life during this season, we are so thankful to God, our "beneficent Father", for each hour we have together as a couple...as a family. 


This year, I am particularly thankful for Julie; for God's healing power in her life, and for how well she is doing in this journey. For her perseverance, her joy, her ministry, her testimony and her love. 


And, we are so very thankful for the grace God has shown us, and the amazing blessings we have received from all of you.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!


Next Friday, the 2nd of December, is chemo #5. The last one was not good.  Not good at all. So, we are asking for specific prayer against the side effects. We believe a good percentage of the issues are coming from the steroids she takes the day before, the day of, and the day after chemo. The doctor is not going to change the dosage or the regiment (and yes, we did ask), so we need to counter them some other way - and the best way I know, is to pray against it.


It turns our Sarah and I will not be traveling to Texas for auditions on the 3rd, so we will be here to help take care of Julie - praise God!  Also, Sarah had her wisdom teeth out last Monday, and we would appreciate prayer for her speedy recovery.  


God is good. All the time.