OK…say it with me. Today is the day I will not…

• Go into the red to help someone else get in the black
• Pay lots more in the future for what I take home now
• Stand in line for something that will be there next week at the same price
• Become part of a frenzied crowd or mob
• Change my mind about what’s a truly good deal
• Allow any hype to change my mood or my attitude
• Buy into the retail message of Christmas while forfeiting the real message

Today is the day after Thanksgiving here in America.

For my money…that’s the only sensible way of looking at it. I’ve seen lots of advertising and marketing for Black Friday, and listen to me people…it’s so unnecessary.

Retailers would have you believe that continuing to visit with your friends, family, and relatives is such an awful strain…and oh, so boring. Malls, department stores, and online marketers want you to buy like no other day of the year can possibly match the “bargains” of today.

Poppycock…balderdash…gobbledygook…and codswallop.

Today is the day for traditional retailers to kick off their “season” of selling to make up for the rest of the year. This is the day they hope to begin to climb out of the red and into the black. You want to know the most ironic part of it? Many of those retailers (by no means all) are not Christians…do not believe or trust in God…and even think we Christians are small-minded fools. But they’re more than willing to take the fool’s money.

I’m not at all for taking the gift-giving out of Christmas. I love getting and giving gifts. But I just don’t want anyone to be able to profit from my faith in God, in one hand, while they thumb their nose at Him with the other. And I certainly don’t want to buy into the hype that today is the day the year’s best bargains appear.

Feel free to totally disregard my heartfelt tips. I know it’s fun to go out and shop right now since the Christmas music is playing…and the decorations are popping out everywhere. But as for me and my household…I think we’ll take a drive in the mountains, drink some eggnog, and watch some old black and white movies.

Of course, you can always jump online to find all my really refreshing Rhymes and Reasons? But I recommend you jump on the The FunderFlash. And I’ll send them directly to your inbox. Do it now, and I’ll send you some songs and some other surprises: https://www.TonyFunderburk.com

Stay tuned,