Life Lessons in Gift Exchange

Photo by Ben White

Have you ever heard of a "White Elephant Gift Exchange?"  If you haven't Google it, but in short it is where you go to a party (usually Christmas party) and you bring a gift for some unknown person. Then you draw numbers. If you get number 1 you are the first one to pick one of the gift surprises and open it. Then number 2 can choose to either steal the gift from the first person or pick a different gift. Of course if you are down in the number count you have a selection of what gift you want to steal. If your gift gets stolen, then you can steal someone's else's or pick a new gift out. I think you get the idea.
We went through this last night at a Christmas party. I personally enjoy watching it and being a part of it. But I do believe there are some life lessons you can learn from this.

1. Hold onto things lightly. In this game the gift you just  obtained you can loose in a couple of minutes! True in the game, but also true in life. A fire, theft, or some bad investment can cause you to loose something that you have placed some kind of value. Be willing to let things go.
2. Rejoice in the relationships. Something like this will expose where relationships are at. When people are close you will have more fun. Don't think so much about what you are going to get, but enjoy the people around you.
3. Be generous. That can come in different forms. It could be what you bring (there are different rules played that may affect this), but also in the exchange. Last night I stole a gift  that I personally liked from someone. I would use it and be happy with it. But I knew the person I took it from really liked it also (they stole it from someone else). So she was displeased, but that is all apart of the fun! But afterwards I went up to her and gave her the gift. For me to see the smile on her face was the best gift I got from that night. 

If you read my last blog you know I love what Christmas is all about. Remember that this time of year it is about Jesus and how He was the Ultimate Gift from God to bring us into relationship with Him and learn to be in healthy relationships with one another. So let us value people more than things (Points 1 and 2),  live a life of generosity (point 3), and be grateful for what God has done for us and others in our life. Christmas is a great reminder for these lessons not only for this season, but all year around.

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