The holidays bring out the worse in us at times. We mean well but our feelings get in the way. Thanksgiving has passed but just how thankful are we? We gave thanks. We prepared a huge feast. We ate good, slept good, and probably had some good fun with our family and friends.

But often times, before the day arrives, the enemy shows up and causes turmoil within the family in hopes of destroying the premise of the holiday. Sister is mad because Thanksgiving isn’t at her house this year. The brother decides to host but he wants to be selective on which family members are allowed in his home. The cousin doesn’t want to be bothered with doing any cooking at all nor will they go over big mama house this year because she doesn’t have the patience to deal with y’all mess. Then the Uncle wants to bring his girlfriend over with her kids. Nothing wrong with that but they all come over starving and therefore starts complaining on the food not being prepared, they fix their plates and then get back in line for the foil covered plate, and leaves soon after dessert because they want to go spend time with her family. But her kids mistakenly take selfies of themselves at home in the bed an hour after leaving.

Outside of those known personalities that still upset us, for some reason old mistakes and issues rear their ugly heads. How convenient tho. We are gathered to celebrate all we have been able to overcome. To celebrate being alive, our blessings, our shortcomings, and being able to survive it all. Yet, we still end up in some type of argument or disagreement on the pettiest (in my opinion) stuff ever. And most of the time it’s over OLD stuff!

Here are my questions. Why are we upset years later about stuff that DONT matter anymore? Why do we stay mad at folks for years over stuff that took 3 minutes to do? Why do we hold grudges with our kinfolks we share blood with but forgive fly-by-night friends we only share a favorite team with so easily? Why do we treat strangers so far better than those we confess our love to (I.e. please, thank you, you are so sweet, you did a great job, etc)? Why does that good for nothing man (or woman) get treated better than the ones who’ve been with you for years and they’ve only been around a few months? Why do we spend time celebrating and pumping up others but neglecting those closest to us? Do they not deserve that same affection? Or have you decided they don’t deserve it, all due to something they said or did many moons ago? Or better yet…maybe you don’t give it because you KNOW the real them and they don’t deserve such kindness from you?

Interesting…

Screaming “you know blood is thicker than water?” Really! When? When have you shown such loyalty towards that blood you share? And I’m not referring to that time you took up for them on the playground or on the school yard. How about expressing that loyalty with the ways you treat them?

We love the holidays and the joy they bring. However, the lie detector tests reveal that that was a lie. Thanksgiving is the time to show thanks for all God has done for us. Yet we end up not being thankful after all.

Can we get back to that kind of love? Love for one another? That love for your sister, brother, cousin, Uncle, Auntie, Mom and even Dad? Once we get back to the basics, I believe we will be truly thankful for what and for whom we have.

Thank you for your attention. Remember you are your own competition.

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