The Holidays around relatives resembled a contest more than
thankfulness to God and a celebration of the birth of Christ.

This is why we have decided to limit our time with the relatives.

They seemed incapable of seeing what they and others have been blessed with as something to be grateful and content with.

Almost instantaneously it is compared to others that sometimes have achieved more, at least in the worldly way of looking at things.

Don't get me wrong, often they are grateful, but this is quickly
dispelled when compared to others who have been blessed not through the goodness of God, but through their own worldly efforts and success.

Their existence seems to be more a one of quantity than quality
where an 'abundance of things' is the indicator of success and
boasting. (Luke 12:15ff)

Instead of wanting everything they have, and being grateful and
faithful with that, they are on an eternal quest to possess more and more.

In my opinion the children show the effects of this kind of thinking in the way they act and think.

Often complaining about their state in life.

The scripture talks about this. It says, 'But know this, that in the
last days grievous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of
self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to
parents, UNTHANKFUL, unholy, 3 without natural affection,
implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of
good, 4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather
than lovers of God; 5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. FROM THESE ALSO TURN AWAY.' (2 Timothy 3)

Folks in America can often be the most ungrateful people around.

How can this be in such an affluent nation?

Affluence can engender the feeling of entitlement rather than
thankfulness.

The Grass is alway greener on the other side of the fence, and when they get to the other side they then wonder why they left the other place at all.

Then to make things worse, they pursue all these things as if they have some divine mandate to do so.

They go into the world as if they are comissioned by God to have a bigger car, house, family etc.

What makes it even sadder is that they haven't even fully
appreciated what they already have before they are trying for more.

The only thing that they don't really seem to be trying for more of is, righteousness and peace that passes all understanding.

A godly contentment is greater gain that all the riches in the
world. (1 Timothy 6)

From what I have seen and heard, the affluent are often chameleons that change color according to their surroundings.

They will curse with the cursed, they will blend in. They also have a very liberal view of tolerance which makes it impossible for them to actually stand up for the Lord.

Success often requires that they soothsay their way to the top rather than say what God thinks.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain: 7 for we brought
nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; 8 but having food and covering we shall be therewith content. 9 But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6)

Be thankful for what God has blessed you with and pray the Lord
makes you a wise steward of what he has already given you. (1
Corinthians 4:1,2)

This is what Thanksgiving should be about. (Psalm 100)

BJ Max