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As you look around this week you will see more and more signs of Christmas. Our city Christmas Tree is up and decorated; we enjoyed a great celebration and parade. The stores are all decked out with Christmas. So all the “signs” of Christmas are in place.

Dear Rusty: Things have gone good for me until now. I got a job and have enjoyed going back to work after being retired. But I just got some bad news - a letter from Social Security saying I owe them $17,000 because when I went back to work, I earned more than allowed in 2021. They never mentioned that I told them I was going back to work! They now say they can’t pay me benefits in 2022 because I am working. Good job SSA, since I told you when I went back to work! Anyway, I can’t repay them all at once, I’m lucky to buy gas to get groceries. They list items for a waiver, but I am not sure what is best for me. I was planning on moving for health reasons, but if I paid them all at once I have nothing left for the move. I just started my research on how to handle this but hoped you would have some insight. Signed: Un-retired Worker

I hope everyone has a very happy Thanksgiving Day. Of all the American holidays, Thanksgiving is perhaps the most special and spiritual of our American holidays. It is a time that reminds us to be thankful. But did you know that having an attitude of gratitude is something that God commands? 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”