To TV or not to TV.
We don’t watch a lot of regular television in our home…we don’t have cable or satellite. It’s not any sort of statement – it just is. We do have a television and a lot of various other screens (phones, tablets, computers), and entertainment is consumed, but not normally entertainment with commercials.
This last Sunday was an exception. The Chiefs were playing, so we broke out the old antennae to watch the game. Since we don’t watch much network television commercials are always way more interesting than they used to be. Two commercials stuck out to me on Sunday, partly because of how many times I saw them, and partly because of the message they each sent.
The first was a Walmart commercial featuring The Pioneer Woman (image above). I didn’t know anything about her, so I googled her. The Pioneer Woman is Renee Drummond, a blogger who has turned her blog into a ton more, including a line of products at Walmart.
The second was a commercial promoting Verizon’s upcoming Black Friday specials. This commercial got my attention with one word – Thanksgetting.
Thanksgetting.
I’ll admit, I had to see the commercial multiple times before –
- I caught the term
- I verified “Thanksgetting” is what was said.
Once I realized it was indeed Thanksgetting for Thanksgiving, my mind started turning. I have no problem with Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, specials and shopping. I participate! (from my couch on the computer 🙂 When I had my own business, I utilized this opportunity to sell.
However, I do wonder about our culture. This is where the contrast between the 2 commercials come in. One (Walmart, Pioneer Woman) celebrates family and thankfulness. The other (Verizon, Thanksgetting) celebrates consumerism and materialism.
I wonder if we, as a culture, with the rise of Black Friday in our consciousness, are losing the value of setting a day aside to simply give thanks? Let’s be real, both commercials are selling their stuff, but it seems we are becoming much more up front about our true desire – me and my wants.
Give Thanks!
My encouragement today is simple and sweet – give thanks! Whether it’s in Spanish, Bosnian, Portuguese, English or Icelandic, give thanks.
But I will give repeated thanks to the lord, praising him to everyone. -Psalms 109:30
And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. -Ephesians 5:20
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God ’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks to the lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. -Psalm 118:29
This Thanksgiving (today!), slow down, enjoy the moment and give thanks. Tomorrow enjoy shopping and saving money. Today give thanks.
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