Now that  Thanksgiving is a past memory, the real commercial race is on! And, Christmas promotion full steam ahead! 

I contend that no one is happier to disown Thanksgiving and jump to Christmas than the commercial world. “They” haven’t ever truly adjusted to Thanksgiving, and certainly spend little time recognizing it. The ads and promotions leap from Halloween to Christmas without even glancing back.

“Thanksgiving you say? What’s that?”

Why? You know why. More money to be made. “Thanksgiving concentrates on food, only,” they infer. They do not “have time” for Thanksgiving. For, if they did understand the essence of this holiday, they would tread much more carefully. The ones who preserve Thanksgiving, this precious holiday where we give thanks to God for His blessings, are us! We are the ones who keep Thanksgiving alive.

And we are the consumers. They depend upon us! And it’s us whom they are courting. They had better value this truth.

But, enough of that. QVC, the televised shopping channel, has been pushing Christmas since Sept. 23, and even the Hallmark Channel got really wound up full throttle at end of October. Just in case we aren’t in the mood, by golly, they will try to take us there.

And now, the Christmas push is on. 

Christmas trees have been leaning against the walls of the various stores for days already. Don’t you wonder when they get cut? Christmas candy has been on the shelves for weeks. Decorations? Get ready! 

Outside lights look like “A Christmas Vacation,” cascading light strings, laser shows, projection lights that move to music, moving parts, wreaths, bulbs, and more than can ever be used up by the entire population. Reindeer, blowup decorations, Santa sleighs, pillows, lit branches, and on and on.

And guess what one hardly sees at all? That’s right. Mangers. Wise men. A baby sent from God for one purpose only. Who sleeps in a dirty manger. No, not many of them are around. After all, “how many mangers can one buy” they think.

Don’t misunderstand me. It’s a fun season. It really is.

So brace yourselves. Allow “Merry Ho Ho” time for you and yours. Enjoy the giving and merriment. Hum along to “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.” 

But, don’t forget, ever, the reason for the holiday, no matter how twisted and bent it has become. It’s quite eye-opening once you begin to see it. Oh, and don’t worry about rushing to the stores in time. There’s plenty of Christmas out there.   

Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached atjuditabler@gmail.com.