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Gifts, Gifts, Gifts

by Jerry Ousley  
11/24/2006 / Holidays


By tradition Christmas has become a time for giving gifts. Theres nothing wrong with giving gifts just as long as we dont go overboard, plunging ourselves yet deeper in debt and getting through the holiday relieved that it is over. Christmas should be a time of joy, when we get pleasure from what we have picked out for those special individuals on our gift list. But all too often we wind up buying things for individuals we really dont want to buy for. I suppose we all do that to a degree. Its called saving face. I know what thats all about.

I remember a particular Christmas when I was a kid. Our parents had given us enough money to buy a gift for each other (I have two brothers, and one sister). It was strongly suggested to me that I purchase a gift for my sister (she was one of those during my childhood I really didnt want to buy a gift for) and the strongly suggested gift was an Etch-A-Sketch (remember those?). I was offended. After all, this was my dream gift. I knew that if I only had an Etch-A-Sketch I was destined to become a great artist. This was to be the gift that would make me the coveted child in the household. I knew that it would forever decide my fate in life. And they had the audacity to strongly suggest that I buy one for my (ugh) sister. Did they think that I was an untalented freak and that the gift of all gifts was to go to her instead?

I looked around the toy department of the store always coming back down the aisle that held the coveted Etch-A-Sketch. I did some figuring and with money I had managed to save and what our parents had given us if I didnt spend too much on my (ugh) sister I could walk out of there with my beloved Etch-A-Sketch. But those strongly suggested words made me to know that I would be in a whole heap of trouble if I followed my plan instead of theirs. I grabbed up the Etch-A-Sketch. Even in its bubble wrapped package I could feel the power of creation emanating from it. I felt that I was being cheated out of my life long career and that I was handing it over to my (ugh) sister. Alas, such was my lot in life!

Christmas morning finally arrived and I eyed the package that had been wrapped from me to my sister. Even though a few weeks had passed I couldnt get over the feeling of being cheated. My heart was heavy as she tore into the gift and smiled with glee thanking me for her (my) Etch-A-Sketch. Then I was handed a box. Hmmm this box has a very familiar feel to it, I thought. It was approximately the same size and weight as the one I had given to my sister. I looked at the label and discovered that it was from her. Could it be? Yes it was! It had been strongly suggested to her as well and so she had bought me an Etch-A-Sketch. I smiled with a pretended happiness for my gift. But in reality I was wondering if I could hide behind it because the embarrassment from my previous feelings had shrank me to about two inches tall and I just wanted to disappear for a while.

Now I never became a great artist and, although my sister and I played with our Etch-A-Sketches for several years after that, it didnt transform me filling me with talent. Im really lucky to draw a straight line. But the life lesson I learned that Christmas left a memorable impact.

As I remember this episode from childhood I realize that as we give at Christmastime we should never give begrudgingly. It will bite us in the butt. God will allow us to feel two inches tall and they dont make Etch-A-Sketches any more (as far as I know) to hide behind. There are those who need our help particularly at Christmas. Of course we cant give to them all. But we can give. However, heed my warning Dont give because of those strong suggestions wishing that you had went a little cheaper so you could have kept some for yourself. You cant really save face. We might be good at hiding it from others but what takes place inside, well, its not a pretty sight. It is better to not give at all than to give with that kind of attitude.

It makes me to wonder, what would have happened if Christ had given begrudgingly? He gave the greatest gift any human being on Planet Earth could have hoped to receive the gift of eternal life in Him. What if He had decided to go chincy on His gift? I really dont want to think about that question very long.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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