GOP celebrates family on Christmas

Christmas is a time for America to recognize the role strong families play in building community across the country, Sen.-elect James Lankford (R-Okla.) said in the weekly Republican address. 

“The future of our nation is dependent on the future of our families. Broken families not only affect the people involved, but they have an impact on public policy decisions in Washington, D.C., and state capitols around the nation,” the incoming Republican Senator said, noting Christmas can be a time for familial reconciliation. 

{mosads}“America is strongest when families take care of each other and walk with one another through need and loss. Christmas is a great time to recommit to each other and our communities,” he added.

Lankford highlighted historical events surrounding the holiday, including Spanish explorers celebrating it in present-day Florida in 1539, Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas Eve in 1776 and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preaching on peace on Christmas Eve in 1967, noting that “brotherhood will be more than a few words at the end of a prayer.”

“For the millions of Americans, like my family, who believe that there is a creator God who can be known personally, Christmas is a celebration of Jesus’ offer of love and forgiveness for all people,” said Lankford, who is married with two children and has represented the Bible Belt state in the House since 2011. 

Lankford won the Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).

Lankford said that public and private nativity scenes and Christmas trees across the country are emblematic of America’s constitutional protection for freedom of religion.

“Americans honor and respect each other’s faith, and we honor those that choose to have no faith. Under our freedom, no one is silenced because of their religious belief,” he said.

He also used the Republican address to thank military members and their families.

“Thank you for serving far away so millions of American families can be at home today in freedom and safety. Your sacrifice and commitment allow children in my state and across our nation to wake up with peace,” he said.

“From Bethlehem, Penn., to Nazareth, Texas, from Noel, La., to Christmas, Ariz. – even from Wiseman, Alaska to Shepherd, Tenn. – I pray our nation may know the peace of Christ and the joy of his birth on this Christmas Day,” he added. “Merry Christmas.”