Changing Your Black Friday Focus

Our family has never really been a fan of or participated in Black Friday sales and events.

We typically choose to take time to be with each other as it’s one of the few times of the year when nearly everyone is around and not working or not in school. It’s a time of fellowship and togetherness for us.

So today, I have a challenge for you! Keep reading if you want in…

The day after Thanksgiving, we attempt to still be in a thankful frame of mind. We are home with our girls and start preparing our home for December’s blessing, the birth of Christ. Christmas in our home is a time of year when our family gets together and focuses on each other… and not just the “stuff” that comes with the holidays.

In this day and age, it sure is hard to separate the two, isn’t it? Especially when it comes to kids and their frame of mind.

Children are bombarded with STUFF! Every day we are getting in the mail a new catalog that has Christmas ideas plastered throughout them. What can you do to take the focus off the commercialism of Christmas and get it back on Jesus?

We aren’t perfect and we do make believe that there is a Santa Claus that visits our home, but my girls know the REAL reason for Christmas. I believe that all starts from a very young age, but it’s never to late to start with your family.

This year, I challenge you to take the step to get the focus off material things! Instead of participating in Black Friday, stay home with your family.

If you have done Black Friday events in the past with your friends and family, change up your routine and take time to visit each others’ homes with your kids instead. Here are just a few ideas we’ve come up with for changing your Black Friday focus:

• Host a potluck of Thanksgiving leftovers and invite everyone to your house to share in food and family games
• Create a Thankfulness Jar. The Blessings Jar is a fabulous book that I love reading to my girls that perfectly illustrates how to accomplish this very idea with your own family. Every time someone thinks of something they are thankful for, write it on a note card and place it in the jar.
• Put on the Christmas music and have a party decorating with your family for Christmas.
• Volunteer in your neighborhood to take care of those less fortunate who may be forgotten about the day after Thanksgiving.
• Get out the crafts or baking goods and make gifts that you can give to someone who is hurting this Christmas season… you don’t have to wait until Christmas Day to let someone know you’re thinking of them! Christmas is a hard season for many — surprise someone around you with a handmade gift!

Let’s focus on our blessings this Black Friday and forget the craziness going on around. And if you must shop… there’s always Cyber Monday.

Your Turn

Have you changed your Black Friday focus? How do you help your family focus on the true meaning of Christmas and not be overrun with the commercialism of the season? Leave your comments below. We’d love to hear your ideas!