Thanksgiving Reflections
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, it’s a time to pause and reflect on the many blessings in our lives. Yet, amid political strife, ongoing wars, and a world marked by division and unrest, perhaps I’m not alone in finding it easy to overlook the many ways we are blessed.
Consider this: we live in a time and place that ancient royalty would have traded their fortunes for the conveniences we enjoy today. We have technological advancements and knowledge that enable us to lead happier and healthier lives than any generation before us. Through the miraculous innovations of vaccines, antibiotics, and hygiene we have defeated diseases that once claimed countless lives. I am reminded that 100 years ago, in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge lost his son to a small blister he got playing tennis, an injury we could easily treat today with antibiotics.
We also live in a free country where hard work is rewarded. My wife, who grew up in China, often shares with me struggles her family has experienced firsthand under a communist country, and how fortunate we are.
Investors, too, have much to be grateful for. Despite many forecasts of a possible recession, the Federal Reserve seems to be steering us toward the elusive “soft landing,” a feat only achieved once before in 1994-95. With inflation easing and the economy displaying robust performance, we’ve also seen favorable market returns, with the U.S. stock market up over 26% this year as of the time I write this. This shows the importance of staying invested, regardless of political climate or short-term market fluctuations. Time in the market always beats timing the market – something we have practiced and preached from our firm’s inception decades ago.
On a personal note, I am thankful for my wife and our three-year-old son, who is just beginning to learn about the holidays. I look forward to teaching him the meaning of Thanksgiving as he grows older and instilling in him the importance of being grateful for all that the Lord has blessed him with. He started preschool at Trinity, a local church school, this year and learned a simple prayer that we encourage him to repeat at each meal: “God is great, God is good, let us thank him for our food. By his hands, we all are fed; bless this day our daily bread.” We were truly moved the first time he encouraged us to “hold our hands and let us pray” and recited that simple but beautiful prayer.
As we approach year-end, and all the hustling and bustling that comes with it, I encourage all of us to hold our hands, and let us pray and give thanks for the blessings big and small we have in our lives, from our daily bread in the morning, to where we rest our head at night, there is so much to be thankful for if we just stay open to the possibilities.
Published in the Victoria Advocate
David Faskas CFA, CFP® is the Chief Investment Officer, Chief Financial Planning Officer, and a managing member of Keller Wealth Advisors.
