WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congress is off this week for the Thanksgiving holiday. Before Oklahoma’s members left town, however, they shared their Thanksgiving messages with Griffin Media’s Washington Bureau Chief Alex Cameron:
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK1)
“It’s a time to pause. I think, in a culture where we expect a lot of things for ourselves, it’s a time to sit and pause with your family, your friends, and just be thankful for those things. We have a tradition in our family where we go around the table, and we have to tell what we’re thankful for, and it’s sort of an awkward moment. You know, we don’t always do that. But I think it’s something that everybody should do, just to pause for a moment and see what you’re thankful for. I can tell you, I’m very thankful for my faith in Jesus Christ and for my family, my friends, for my church and what they do for the community, but also equally important for the men and women in uniform that are around the world that don’t get a chance to celebrate with their families… I think that’s really important for us to remember as we’re sitting around the table with our families that there are people that don’t have that luxury. And that’s so special. And we also have people in our own country that don’t have a chance to have a family to sit down with. And so I think it’s a time that we all have to look forward to what we’re going to do to help one another going forward and give thanks for the great blessings of this country and the opportunity it provides. And I would just say, you know, God bless America. God bless the great people of Oklahoma. And let’s all remember that we, too, can all work together to get great things done.”
Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK2)
“It is so good for our emotional health to get into a place of gratitude. And that’s what, you know, 400 years ago, the pilgrims knew. (They were) biblically minded and Providence set up a situation where people fleeing religious persecution found themselves in a new land, and to honor God, they set down and used a biblical principle of giving thanks in all things. And, thanks to good staff, we actually learned recently it was a three-day celebration. And one of the great quotes in it from 400 years ago with 53 pilgrims and 90 Native Americans, they said, ‘For the goodness of God, we are far from want.’ And I think for all of us that enjoy such abundance in America to just be a place of gratitude, it just goes a long way. Everybody’s gonna have issues. Everybody’s gonna have problems. But to get to a place where you’re thankful about the little things and to go back and think about how far improved our lives are versus what those people were dealing with 400 years ago…we’ve got a lot to be grateful for.
“George in 1789, he issued a Thanksgiving proclamation. It says ‘it’s the duty of all nation to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to be grateful for his benefits, and to humbly implore his protection and favor.’”
Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK3)
“I would remind all my friends and neighbors that we live in an amazing country. It’s a complicated place, but it’s an amazing country. So, as we get together, whether it’s with our close family, extended family, our friends, our neighbors in this season — first with Thanksgiving, later with Christmas — remember how amazing it really is. My parents were little kids in the Great Depression, and when my father would talk about the old days, the ‘good ol’ days’, he would say, ‘Now, remember, son, these are the good ol’ days. Tomorrow will be an even better day.’ So let’s just remember how good we have it, in spite of the challenges we face. And if we work hard enough together, we’ll have even better days ahead. Let’s enjoy each other. Let’s enjoy the bounty of this great land we live in.”
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK4)
“This Thursday, we will gather around our dinner tables to eat turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie, watch football games and parades, and spend time with our family and loved ones. However, we must not forget the reason for the holiday. Celebrated in our nation for over 400 years, Thanksgiving is one of America’s most sacred traditions. It is a day set aside to pause and be grateful for all we have and count our blessings, no matter how big or small. This year, I personally will be giving thanks for good health, family and friends, and food and shelter. Additionally, I am especially grateful to be living in the United States of America – and I encourage you all to give thanks for that too. Living in this great nation has blessed us all with freedom, opportunity, and liberty. It has given us the ability to have our voices heard, practice our religious beliefs, and make our own personal choices. Yet, as Americans, because freedom is so intertwined into our daily lives, it is easy for us to take these things for granted. However, we must remember that freedom is not free. With that in mind, we should all be thankful for the fearless members of our Armed Forces who fight every day for our freedom. They have put their own lives on the line for our country, and it is because of their bravery and sacrifices that we are able to live this wonderful life we live as Americans. So, in conclusion, I encourage you all to remember why we feast on Thursday. Let us all reflect on the bountiful blessings we enjoy in our nation and give thanks for the precious freedoms we are given as Americans. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!”
Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK5)
“This is an incredible time to celebrate friends and family, and I just want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve in the 5th Congressional District and I wish each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. And we also want to keep those that are overseas or serving in the military away from family in our thoughts and prayers this holiday season.”
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)
“Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy time together with family and that you get time together just to be grateful. You’ve been given much as a nation and as a state, and our family and community. We have so many blessings. We’re Americans, and so we’re always trying to make a more perfect union, and we’re always working to get better. But we need times like this to be able to pause, rest, watch a little football, and enjoy time together as a family with gratitude. So I hope you take time to just be grateful. Bless you during this time.”
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)
“We are so blessed to live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. This Thanksgiving, I am extremely grateful for my faith, my loving family, and for the trust Oklahomans put in me every day. Christie and I hope you have a joyful, safe, and fun-filled Thanksgiving holiday with your loved ones.”
