I find a Christmas white elephant party great fun.
For those who don’t know what a white elephant party is, each person participating brings a wrapped gift. The gift is not to exceed a specified amount such as $15. The gifts are put all together in a group. Each person draws a number out of a bowl. The person who gets the number “1” gets first choice. He opens his gift for everyone to see what it is. The person drawing the number “2” gets to either open a new gift or take the gift from number one.
If your gift is taken from you, you get to select a new gift, or take someone else’s already open gift. I have seen some people become rather displeased to lose their gift. Once a gift has been taken by the third person it is locked. After everyone has had their turn the person with number “1” can either keep their gift or exchange their gift with someone else.
It is sad to open something and want it really bad and then someone else take it away. But it is a game. Hopefully we can act like adults and not get upset. You may even go home with a treasure.
On one occasion a lady in her 90s opened a gift made of wood. Handcrafted, it had two oval-shaped drawers. The right size for paper clips or rubber bands. This was a gift that took hours to cut, shape, sand and assemble. Said the lady opening the gift, “What is this?” We explained what it was. To which her response was, “What am I going to do with this?” She was very displeased.
Now I knew the man who crafted the gift was in his 90s also. I knew he would be hurt by her displeasure. I took an interest in the gift and said I would be happy to trade my gift for hers if she wanted. She did. I still have the work of wood on my desk. I am not saying she should have pretended to like the gift. However, I wish she had been considerate of his labor of love.
We need to consider the feelings of others as we journey towards Heaven. Now the rejection of a gift is a person’s personal decision. Even if it offends the giver. But what about God’s gift?
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Us sinners deserve death and eternal hell. God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus prepares us a place in Heaven. If a sinner choses to reject God’s gift that is their business. However, on judgment day as their life is replayed, they will see their rejection. They will regret their rejection. But that decision was sealed when they died.
Please repent and ask Jesus to save you while you can.
Daily devotions can be found at www.youtube.com/@heretheword7165
