Comments on: Post 1100 — On Thanksgiving

By: The Unknown Professor

The Unknown Professor — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:44:03 +0000

David: A Happy Thangsgiving (albeit belated) to the house of Merkel). I appreciate the insight you bring to your financial writings and the occasional grace notes you insert from your faith (we share it in broad terms – while not of the same “brand name” (although I did do Presbyterian for a while), I’ve been a believer for most of my adult life).

It sounds like you nailed the thanksgiving angle. Like cheerfulness and love, it’s much more a decision than we care to admit most days. You can put two poeple through almost identical stress, and one rises while one falls apart (I know – we’ve had some serious stress this last year, with the loss of both my 10 year old son (to cancer), my ten year old nephew to cancer (two years ago), and my brother’s only daughter (to a car accident). Horrific things all, and almost Jobsian in their impact.

And yet,I will still praise him. I may aslo swear at him from time to time, and definitely will question him daily as to why.

But the praise continues.

I figure that either he loves us or he doesn’t, and he’s either in control or he isn’t). Since I believe that he does (love) and he is (in control), my only conclusion can be that “all wi be well, an all wi be well” – eventually. So I might as well praise him now

Keep up the good work. And I wish the best of God’s blessings on you, your endeavors, and yor ridiculously (and I’m sure delightfully) large family.

Peace

By: Saloner

Saloner — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:36:39 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving David.
Thank you very much for the education you provide.

By: sg

sg — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:37:31 +0000

“First, if you are thankful, avoid complaining about government officials. Complain about policies, fine. It is proper to be principled; it is wrong to be acidic to those who hold an office, even if they hold a wrong opinion. Basic respect must be maintained even with 180-degree disagreement. The office means more than the person holding it that you disagree with.”

Politicians don’t respect us enough to tell us the truth. They take our money and funnel it to their friends for purposes that are maybe 5% in the public interest and 95% in the interest of those involved in the deal. Politicians have now sunk to deriding the electorate. It is they who have the acidic tone towards us.
They abuse us. We are guilty of being too patient with them and their foolish mismanagement, just like a kind parent is sometimes guilty of being too patient with an erring child.

By: Mike C

Mike C — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:15:02 +0000

David,

Happy Thanksgiving. Of all the blogs I regularly read, your blog is at the top of the list of making me really think.

I’m not particularly religious, but I did attend a church service with my girlfriend last night where the pastor hit on the theme of the difference between joy and happiness, and he said happiness comes from circumstances whereas joy is internal and trumps whether you are rich or poor, healthy or sick.

By: crocodilechuck

crocodilechuck — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:08:28 +0000

David

you are a mensch! I have learned a lot from your blog and enjoy reading your point of view-thank you!

By: TDL

TDL — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:22:30 +0000

David,
Happy Thanksgiving. I just wanted to echo Cody’s comment, you were one of the best at RM and I am thankful that you started your own blog.

Regards,
TDL

By: Steven Milos

Steven Milos — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:53:28 +0000

Happy (American) Thanksgiving to you David! Like normal people (Canadians), I celebrated it in October, but it’s always a good time to be thankful for everything that God has blessed us with. Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Steve

By: Quints

Quints — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:43:44 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to you! And may God bless you and your family as he has mine.

I am thankful for many things, including the insight I have always received from this blog.