What A Blessing Work Is.

       Ya know, I've been hearing that a lot of folks are unhappy about stores being open on Thanksgiving and how that means that poorer employees won't be able to share in the celebration of the bounty of the holiday. The time for family will be lost to these hapless employees who have no choice but to work while their families must celebrate without those loved ones. How unfair is that?
       But there's another way of looking at this thing. After all, if you're poor, if you have trouble keeping food on the table and a roof over the heads of your family, exactly what bounty were you supposed to celebrate? The bounty of pay your boss earns in future stocks, expenses and exorbitant pay? The bounty of the dividends the stockholders earn at your expense? Maybe the bounty of the customers as they first enjoy shopping and then home to the big feast with family and friends? Just which bounty do these employees get to enjoy?
       Maybe they're better off earning a little extra this holiday so they can pay off a little more of their debt, so they can receive a little less in food stamps because Congress doesn't think they need so much and a little less in aid because they get a slightly larger paycheck. Yes, there's a lot to be thankful for, for these low paid wage earners at the mercy of a greedy culture. Of course let's not forget that managers have to work on this holiday too. I wonder how much they held out for? Just wait for bonus time for that shoe to drop.
       No, for these lucky folks, working when everyone else is enjoying the day with family and friends just might be the kindest way to treat them. Convincing a clerk he's better off working and making all that extra money may be the best way for a company to show him how much they respect and care for him. Just don't mention that he's gonna get the short end come time to apply for monthly assistance. But after all, with all that extra money in the paycheck, after any and all deductions, he'll be in a position to go hungry one fewer meal. It'll mean a lot to the kids.
       So even though he wasn't there to share the feast with them, there's always Christmas. I wonder how much they'll pay him to have to work that day too? Just think of the kids happiness, and his too as he misses the opening of that toy. Maybe two if Toys For Tots comes through.