As the hustle and bustle of the interim begins to quiet and we prepare with our families to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the many opportunities we have as Kentuckians to celebrate with our neighbors and friends.
The winter season in Kentucky is one of the most beautiful times of year to take part in several age-old traditions as well as embark on adventures that lead us to the latest in holiday fare. For our friends in the northwest part of the state, there is Lights Under Louisville; for those of us in the bluegrass region, there is Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park or Christmas at Mustard Seed Hill; and for our neighbors to the east, there is the Winter Wonderland of Lights Festival in Ashland, just to name a few. There are several wonderful Christmas events in our local community, as well as spots closer to home like the Reindeer Farm and SoKY Ice Rink in Bowling Green.
From Paducah to Paintsville, there is an activity for everyone, and supporting our communities as well as small businesses this Christmas season is one of the most important things we can do to show our love for one another. We scramble to find the perfect last minute gift for our loved ones, remember the locally owned mom-and-pop boutiques and restaurants in our communities. When we shop local, more of the money we spend stays in our community and helps our friends and neighbors build a life. Our people need us, and we need them. With this in mind, I would challenge each of us to give one Kentucky Proud gift this year.
To quote President Ronald Reagan, “Christmas is a holiday that we celebrate not as individuals nor as a nation, but as a human family.”
However, before we engage in gift giving and get caught up in the commercialization of the holiday, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the real reason for the season: the birth of our Savior. As humans, we tend to get caught up in the stresses of life. We overlook the blessings that have been bestowed upon us in times that we might not deserve it. To put it in perspective, our Savior was born onto this earth and bore the biggest burden humanity will ever know to save us from our sins. When I stop to reflect on the sacrifice Christ Jesus made for us, my troubles seem to dissolve.
I would urge each of us to stop to remember what this holiday truly stands for and reflect on scripture. The book of Isaiah 9:6 says “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Christmas is beyond earthly gifts. The heart of Christmas is the sole fact that humanity was given a son who would go on to die for us.
I am thankful to spend the holidays with those near and dear to my heart and thankful for you, the many constituents, who have trusted me to represent our district in Frankfort. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
I will be returning to Frankfort as we convene the 2024 Regular Session on January 2 and hope to update you on our agenda and the work we accomplish with future legislative updates. As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at Amy.Neighbors@lrc.ky.gov and keep track of interim committee meetings through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
