Merry Christmas!

In anticipation of the holiday season, we often find ourselves hectically tracking down a certain gift or frantically wrapping presents at the last possible moment. Giving at Christmas time is a way for us to show our love and appreciation for our friends and family, but the most important gift of all is the gift of God's only son, Jesus.

As much fun as it is to watch your kids opening Christmas presents can be, it's so important to remember the reason for the season. The greatest gift of all was the birth of God's only son and the years He spent walking this world as one of us before willingly sacrificing himself for our sins. He came to this earth to give us all hope in something greater than what this world can offer, which is eternal life in Heaven through faith in Him.

In the midst of all the chaos in preparing for the holiday season, let's take time to remember that we are celebrating the greatest story of hope. We're celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, who humbled Himself to become a child that was born in a manger and came to this world to serve others and ultimately sacrifice His life for our sins so that we may have eternal life. This Christmas season, let's find opportunities to honor that sacrifice by serving the needs of those around us.

Luke 2:10-12 says, "But the angel said to them, `Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"

I hope we all celebrate this special time of the year with family and friends while always remembering the reason we have hope today and every day.

It truly is an honor to represent House District 51 at the Oklahoma State Capitol. As always, I hope you continue to contact me about any questions or concerns that you may have. My office phone is (405) 557-7405 and my email is brad.boles@okhouse.gov.

I wish each of you a safe and Merry Christmas with your loved ones -- May God bless you and your family!

Rep. Brad Boles represents District 51 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes Grady and Stephens Counties.