November 24, 2020
Autumn air will soon turn to a winter’s frost. A difficult year is drawing to a welcomed close. The hustle and bustle of the holidays feel different this year. Despite the many struggles and uncertainties, we remain full of gratitude for the many blessings we have in our lives.
Thankfully, election season is in our rearview mirror, and we can shift our focus to what this time of year is really about: family, friends, and our communities. Each Thanksgiving I look forward to being home with family making memories. They are the moments that make life meaningful. Thanksgiving meals will probably be different for many families this year due to COVID-19.
However you have chosen or will choose to safely enjoy your Thanksgiving meals, remember those families that may be unable to be together this holiday season as well as those who are in need. Tis the season of giving for those who can, so I encourage you and your family to reach out to local charities to ensure that those in need are fed.
We must also remember our service members, many of whom will be without their families this Thanksgiving, as they are away serving our country. It is important that we honor these individuals and our veterans as we give thanks for the many blessings and freedoms we have here in the United States. Finally, remember those doctors, nurses, and first responders who will be on duty while most of us enjoy a day off.
It would be easy to dwell on all of the challenges 2020 has brought us. COVID-19 has cast a dark cloud. It has heightened our anxieties, threatened the health of the vulnerable, brought on financial hardships, and left many feeling a sense of uncertainty about the future. Normally, we have social gatherings, fellowship, dinners, sporting events, and other activities to temporarily escape, but these have all been disrupted.
Anxiety and fears are understandable, but I hope you will join me in focusing on the silver linings in our lives. We still have so much to be thankful for.
I have heard from many folks about how this year, more than ever, they have spent more quality time at home with their families. People have found time to open a book they have always been interested in. They have picked up the phone and reconnected with a loved one or old friend they have grown distant from and even started a remodeling job or cleaned the garage. People have chosen to enjoy the beauty within their community and appreciate the little things in life.
Be thankful this year for these silver linings and all of the truly precious things in life. Whether it is with food, football, family, or a combination of them all and more, take time to say a prayer of thanks for all that God has done for us. Yes, we have so much to be thankful for.
If you have any questions or comments about any public policy issue or the upcoming 2021 legislative session, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at Phillip.Wheeler@LRC.ky.gov. Remember, you can review the Legislature’s work online at www.legislature.ky.gov. Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!
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Note: Senator Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville) represents Kentucky’s 31st State Senate District, which includes Elliott, Lawrence, Martin, Morgan, and Pike Counties. Senator Wheeler serves as Chair of the Natural Resources and Energy committee, the co-chair of the Public Water and Wastewater System Infrastructure Task Force. He also serves as a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Judiciary, and Appropriations & Revenue. Senator Wheeler is also a member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance and Public Protection; the Program Review and Investigations Committee; the Government Contract Review Committee, and the 2020-2022 Budget Preparation and Submission Statutory Committee. For a high-resolution .jpeg of Senator Wheeler, please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate131.jpg
