Merry Christmas!

By Rep. John Talley

Christmas is an important holiday in the Christian calendar celebrating the birth of Jesus.

To me, a faith that is real is one that leads you to action, so my focus is on making my faith practical. Giving the gifts of friendship, time and meeting the needs of others is one of the most important messages I take from Jesus’ life when He walked this earth.

This time of year, it’s important to be mindful of those who may not have the same blessings of good friends and family. I’ve been thinking about this because I recently toured a foster care community near Luther called Anna’s House.

The property includes eight single-family homes, each designed to serve between five and eight kids in foster care, with a primary focus on keeping sibling groups together.

Unfortunately, many siblings find themselves separated when they enter foster placement due to a lack of available placement options. A community like Anna’s House provides an opportunity for them to lean on each other during this difficult time. This type of community allows foster parents to be a support for each other, and Anna’s House also provides the families with numerous resources.

There are several communities near House District 33 like this, including Lions Meadows of Hope near Perkins and Peppers Ranch Foster Care Community near Guthrie. One of my longtime friends manages the Boys Ranch Town in Edmond, where they teach skills of living on a working ranch.

Just because parents are struggling doesn’t mean their children have any less value. Foster care communities provide critical support for the children and their foster parents and help meet the physical and emotional needs of these kids.

Serving as Chair of the Children, Youth and Family Services Committee has provided me the opportunity to work with and learn about the many organizations and their staff who provide the support these children need.  I encourage you to become involved in organizations like this. You can give a monetary donation or prayer support, or contact them to learn about ways to volunteer.

You can find more information about the work these organizations do at their websites: annashousefoundation.org, lionsmoh.org, peppersranch.com, and obhc.org/ministries/campuses/brt/. For more information about fostering, visit okfosters.org.

As you get involved and find ways to help fill needs, I hope you will realize that in return you receive some of the best presents that cannot be found under a tree!

I will leave you with the words of the prophet Isaiah who spoke about the birth of Jesus: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office at 405-557-7304 or [email protected] with any concerns I may be able to assist with.

Rep. John Talley, a Republican, serves District 33 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Logan and Payne Counties.