I can't believe this.

I want to take what is left over from our Thanksgiving Bash to the homeless shelter up the road from where we live.  We have a lot of food left.  My family has other ideas.  They would rather stay home, or if they do go out, they want to go to their friends' houses or go Christmas shopping.

I have told them that they could help out a little more by showing me some common courtesy or at least a little compassion, but no ... my husband would rather watch his stupid college football games, or my two teenaged sons would rather veg out in front of the computer, playing games or visiting their stupid friends on Facebook or MySpace.

My kids and my husband claim that homeless people make them uncomfortable because they're dirty, or they smell.  Well, they can't help it.  They are in this predicament because of lost employment, they couldn't afford their rent (or house payment), poor life choices, or other factors.  I see nothing wrong with people who are homeless: they are human too, just like you and I are.  Life has  just been unkind to them is all.

Well, I told them again today.  Either they come with me to take the food (I can't do it all by myself, you know!), or else.  I am tired of having to do everything by myself.  Even when I go grocery shopping, it's a battle of wills to get my family to do anything for me or at least make my life just a little bit easier!

I don't know why I even bother anymore.  My husband is tired from work (he works five days a week at the factory), and he wants to stay home on Sundays and relax (this weekend he got off because of the Thanksgiving holiday).  Don't blame him there.  My sons, on the other hand, are lazy, sullen teenagers who only think of themselves.  It's like I don't even exist, and I am getting sick and tired of being ignored or taken advantaged of like this!!

If I hear one more football game or noise from the computer game, I am going to toss both the television and the computer out into the garbage!! I have HAD it with it all already!  Not even Christmas yet, and I am already pulling my hair out!!

That's another thing.  Putting up the Christmas decorations.  We've always done this the day after Thanksgiving in years past; why should this year be any different??  I can't do the lights, not with my arthritis acting up again (I have rheumatoid arthritis; I use two canes when I walk); there's no way I am able to climb a ladder without risking my health!  And the tree is in the attic upstairs; I can't lug it down the stairs! This is where my big, strapping husband and my two equally strong teenagers come into the picture.

Suddenly they are acting like they don't even know me anymore.   I am wondering if they are embarrassed about me because of my medical problems or if they have something else in mind ... like leaving me.  Suddenly that thought seems very real because the silence and the anger has been going on for over two months now, and I am tired of it!!

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks to God for the blessings He's given us, not about football, eating turkey, or going shopping on the busiest shopping day of the year!!