The Thanksgiving holiday is near. For many, it will be the traditional family gathering with good food and good conversation. For others, it will be a frantic time of either chasing after some elusive bargain or needing to work to accommodate these bargain hunters.

They call the Friday after Thanksgiving “Black Friday,” originally to denote the first day of holiday shopping when merchandisers entered their most profitable time of the year.

In many ways, Black Friday has become “black” with frenzied crowds pushing and shoving to get some bargain that, in reality, may not be a bargain at all. Store clerks have actually been killed in these black Friday melees.

Culture changes, but not always for the best. It is difficult to roll back the clock and seek those “old days” when life was not as hectic, but we can reflect on what we are doing now and make a value assessment.

Who says we have to start shopping at 12:01 a.m. or some other unusual hour on that Friday? Why not slow down, enjoy the day, and have some leisure and family time?

More than anything else, Black Friday disrupts family togetherness and makes statements to our children that we may not want to make. Other than a personal relationship with God, nothing is more important than family.

When God created the heavens and the earth, he placed Adam (the first man) on the earth and gave him the task of managing certain parts of God’s handiwork. It was not long before God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him” (Genesis 2:18).

Thus, the first family was created. Satan and all the forces of evil have sought to destroy the family unit ever since.

You might say that you have no family or no family close. Find one.

Most families expand readily to accommodate those who need community. In Psalms, chapter 68, verse 6a, we read, “God sets the solitary in families.” We need each other.

This Thanksgiving, dial back the shopping some and, instead, be creative in seeking and enriching community. We will all be better for it.

Dan Puckett works with road team operations at Life Action Ministries in Buchanan, Michigan.